Trail to the end of the tunnel: Gaza hostage negotiations nearing completion
Negotiations on the release of hostages held in Gaza are now actively underway, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office told Izvestia. They expressed hope that the captives would be able to return home soon. A Hamas source confirmed to Izvestia that most of the issues have been resolved and an agreement will be reached soon if Israel does not make additional demands. At the same time, Arab media say that the signing of the deal can be expected as early as the end of this week, if no new difficulties arise.
Gaza deal in final stage
The armed conflict in the Gaza Strip is nearing its conclusion, with many indications that hostage negotiations have entered a crucial phase. The Jewish state hopes that the captives will be released soon. Dmitry Gendelman, advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister, told Izvestia.
- Negotiations on the release of the hostages are in an intensive phase. Israel hopes that all our hostages will be able to return home in the near future," he told Izvestiya.
A Hamas source confirmed to the editorial board that most of the contentious issues have already been agreed upon.
- Most of the issues are closed. An agreement may soon be reached if the occupier (Israel. - Izvestia) does not impose new demands," the Izvestia interlocutor said.
Arab media say that the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip have reached the "almost final" stage, and the signing of an agreement can be expected at the end of this week, if no new complications arise.
Recall that a total of 100 hostages are now being held in Gaza, including those who are considered dead. Among the captives are two citizens of the Russian Federation - Alexander Trufanov and Maxim Harkin. The Hamas leadership considers them to be Israeli military, but the men are ready to be released primarily as a gesture of respect to Russia if a deal is struck.
International mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, are playing a key role in the negotiation process. The parties are discussing the format of the exchange, the number of hostages released, including women and children, as well as Israeli responses regarding the withdrawal from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
- Egypt has always worked to unblock this tragic frozen issue. Cairo has been keen to intensify negotiations. It is working for a ceasefire, even if only temporary. This will lead to a comprehensive ceasefire, calm and perhaps even a comprehensive settlement. Cairo continues to pursue this approach," Egyptian international relations specialist Tarek al-Bardisi told Izvestia.
Earlier, Hamas spokesman in Lebanon Ahmed Abdel Hadi told Izvestia that the movement was studying a new Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage exchange.
Hamas and Israeli delegations will arrive in Cairo within two days to finalize discussions on the agreement, Al Araby Al Jadeed newspaper reported. According to the newspaper, meetings in Qatar with the participation of the Israeli negotiating team on technical issues have largely contributed to resolving the controversial aspects of the deal.
Despite the emerging optimism, the gaps between Israel and Hamas remain wide, according to Axios. White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk and CIA Director Bill Burns are now in Doha trying to bridge the remaining gaps.
Gaza cease-fire agreement
The Arab media has revealed in some detail the main points of the agreement, which envisages a phased ceasefire and gradual fulfillment of the obligations of both sides.
In the first phase, which will last between 45 and 60 days, the parties commit to a ceasefire, the Israeli army withdraws from Gaza cities, but maintains a partial presence in the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and the Gaza Strip and the Netzarim corridor dividing the Strip into southern and northern parts. Women and children are allowed to return to northern Gaza immediately. The return of men will take place later, gradually and according to an agreed mechanism.
Hamas, in the first phase, is committed to handing over some 30 Israeli captives (including dead bodies). In return, the Jewish state will release an undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners, including dozens of those sentenced to life terms. The Rafah crossing will come under the administration of the Palestinian Authority. The transition will be carried out gradually under Egyptian control.
According to various media sources, Hamas has made significant concessions, abandoning demands for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip in the first phase. Nevertheless, the movement has secured guarantees that further stages of the agreement will include the realization of this condition.
After what happened in Syria and Lebanon, the resistance forces no longer have the ability to maintain military capabilities, and Hamas should agree to the deal, Iranian international relations specialist Hadi Issa Daloul tells Izvestia.
- "The al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas' military wing. - Izvestia), Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, and Iraq's Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi have unfortunately found themselves in a very difficult position as a result of Syria's withdrawal from the resistance axis, as well as the weakening of Lebanon, the reduction in the number of major military bases, and Hezbollah's capabilities." There is no longer any possibility of uniting the resistance forces," he believes.
Despite the progress made, the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released did not include high-ranking figures such as Marwan Barghouti (one of Fatah's leaders), Ahmed Saadat (general secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) and others. This issue remains open and its discussion may be part of the next stages of the negotiations.
The long delay in contacts threatens to further worsen the already catastrophic situation of civilians in Gaza, who continue to suffer from a lack of food, water and medical care, while Israeli society is actively demanding the swift return of hostages.
However, against the backdrop of intensive negotiations, hostilities have intensified. On December 11, four rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, a rare event given the weakening of Hamas. The Israeli army also continues to strike. In the past 24 hours alone, at least 38 people have been killed and 203 wounded by Israeli shelling, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
