Israel awaits Hamas’ response to the terms of a prisoner exchange deal proposed in Paris last week. According to an informed source cited by Haaretz, reaching conclusions at this stage about the movement’s willingness to proceed with the proposal is impossible. Even if an agreement is reached on a comprehensive ceasefire, other sensitive issues remain, such as determining the Palestinian prisoners to be released, a task requiring considerable effort and time.
Haaretz claimed that sources within Hamas stated, “As long as there is no agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire, making any progress is impossible.” Palestinian and Arab diplomatic sources with insights into the details revealed that the delay in Hamas’ response is primarily technical, related to security and field considerations, rather than internal disputes within the movement. The transfer of information to and from the Gaza Strip has become complex due to ongoing hostilities.
On the Israeli side, officials insist on an agreement stipulating the release of all hostages, including soldiers, in one stage. This demand is rooted in two fears: first, Israel might struggle to respond to resistance “activities” during different phases of the deal, potentially jeopardizing the entire agreement. Second, the phased release of hostages might sever all communication with those remaining, posing a threat to their lives and future rescue attempts.
A diplomatic source mentioned that “Hamas considers hostages the primary pressure tool for the Israeli army’s withdrawal, ensuring the organization’s leaders’ safety. They won’t rush to release them all without ensuring a clear achievement.”
Sources familiar with discussions in the War Cabinet stated that Ministers Yariv Levin and Avi Dichter called for minimizing the number of deal phases and taking measures to ensure the release of all hostages. According to Ramallah sources involved in talks with Qatar and Egypt, one proposal under consideration is gradual progress, with each stage involving ongoing negotiations until the final announcement of a ceasefire. They highlighted the divergence in priorities, with Israel seeking the hostages first, while Hamas prioritizes the ceasefire. Hence, efforts are underway to find a formula for mutual agreement.
