A recent initiative for a potential agreement involving the release of hostages and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reported by Hebrew media on Tuesday. The Hamas group indicated that it had received and was reviewing multiple drafts that might lead to a cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

As reported by Ynet, the head of Mossad, David Barnea, presented a plan to Qatari representatives, suggesting the release of 11 to 14 hostages from Gaza in exchange for a number of Palestinian security detainees held in Israel, alongside a month-long ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

The report indicated that all remaining women and children held by Hamas would be included in the list of hostages to be released under this proposed deal.

While Ynet attributed this proposal to Israel’s negotiating team, Channel 12 indicated that it was the Qatari mediators who introduced the framework. The Channel 12 report mentioned that the proposal accounted for the release of 11 living hostages.

Reports suggest that this agreement would not necessitate a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza nor a complete cessation of fighting—issues that have been contentious in prior negotiations, as Hamas has demanded an end to hostilities as a non-negotiable condition.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Ynet reported that to persuade Hamas to agree to a deal that does not involve a total withdrawal of Israeli troops, Israel would likely need to commit to releasing a larger number of Palestinian security prisoners than initially planned.

Although the exact number is still under consideration, Walla news outlet reported that Israel might release approximately 100 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the 11 to 14 hostages.

However, the terror group seemed to maintain its previous demands on Tuesday, as senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri confirmed that the group was evaluating various options but reiterated that it would not accept any proposal that did not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

“The movement has confirmed it is open to any deal or ideas that ends the suffering of our people in Gaza and achieve a permanent ceasefire, and the occupation’s withdrawal from all of Gaza Strip,” he stated in a televised address.

He emphasized that any agreement must also end the blockade of the Strip, allow for unrestricted humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, and secure a swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

These demands largely echo those articulated by the terror group over the past year.

Following recent advancements made in Doha, an Israeli official informed the Times of Israel on Tuesday that a second round of hostage discussions would occur later this week in Egypt.

The delegation is expected to be led by Barnea, according to the official.

Simultaneously, as the Israeli delegation engages in discussions, Qatari mediators are anticipated to meet with Hamas leaders in Doha to determine the group’s willingness to re-enter negotiations, as reported by Ynet.

In addition to the month-long ceasefire proposal in exchange for the release of 11 to 14 hostages, Hamas will also be informed about two other potential partial agreements, the report noted.

The first proposal, put forth by Egyptian mediators, involves a two-day ceasefire to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli hostages for a number of Palestinian prisoners.

This Egyptian offer would also entail 10 days of negotiations following the release of the four hostages.

A second proposal, which Qatar is expected to present to Hamas leadership, has been formulated by Russia and involves the release of two hostages who hold Russian citizenship, Alexander (Sasha) Trufanov and Maxim Herkin.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas’s politburo, previously told Russia’s RIA state news agency that the release of the two would be a “priority,” but only as part of a broader ceasefire agreement and in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Despite the reported advancements in negotiations, Axios news reported that the US does not anticipate any significant breakthroughs before the US presidential elections on November 5.

Nonetheless, a spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that Qatar intends to continue working on a ceasefire agreement alongside the administration of US President Joe Biden “until the last minute” before the election.

“We don’t foresee any negative result of the elections on the mediation process itself. We believe we are dealing with institutions, and in a country like the United States the institutions are invested in finding a resolution to this crisis,” spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari remarked at a press conference.

It is estimated that out of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 97 remain in Gaza, including the confirmed bodies of at least 34 individuals by the IDF.

Hamas released 105 civilians during a week-long truce in late November, with four hostages being freed beforehand. Eight hostages were rescued alive by troops, and the remains of 37 hostages have also been recovered, including three who were mistakenly killed by the military while attempting to escape.

Additionally, Hamas is holding two Israeli civilians who entered the Strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the bodies of two IDF soldiers killed in 2014.

{Matzav.com}