Peace order: Hamas is set for a partial deal on Gaza
The Palestinian movement Hamas and Israel may conclude a partial deal on Gaza. This can become the basis for the next stage — a complete ceasefire, a source in the movement told Izvestia. The group remains optimistic about reaching an agreement. On May 12, the movement agreed to release an Israeli hostage with U.S. citizenship, a move that could be part of a broader agreement on a cease—fire and humanitarian access. On May 3, Hamas released a video of Maxim Kharkin, a native of Donbass, who was abducted and claimed to have been injured as a result of the latest Israeli shelling of Gaza.
Hamas' optimism in Gaza talks
Hamas remains hopeful of reaching at least a partial agreement with Israel, a source in the Palestinian movement told Izvestia. According to him, this step can become the basis for the next stage — a complete ceasefire and the start of negotiations on a long-term truce. Cautious optimism sounded for the first time in a long time against the background of the newly aggravated situation in the Gaza Strip.
On May 12, the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, the Izzaddin al—Qassam Brigades, announced its readiness to release Israeli soldier Idan Alexander, who also holds American citizenship, from captivity. Hamas called this step part of a package of measures aimed at ending hostilities, opening humanitarian corridors and resuming aid supplies to residents of the Gaza Strip.
— There is real optimism about the possibility of reaching a deal, even if it is partial. This could pave the way for the second phase, a complete end to the war, provided that Israel and the American side take seriously the proposals presented by the movement's delegation," the source told Izvestia.
As the Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat found out, positive dynamics have appeared in the negotiations, which are taking place through the mediation of Egypt and Qatar and with the active participation of representatives of the United States and Israel. Sources in Hamas did not rule out that the document could be approved within the next 48 hours, subject to the agreement of all parties on the current proposals.
Hani Salah, an expert on Palestinian resistance issues, believes that the release of the Israeli-American prisoner is not just a gesture in exchange for humanitarian aid, it symbolizes the starting point of a possible agreement and demonstrates goodwill on the part of Hamas. According to the expert, this step was probably the result of certain promises made by the American side, and can be considered as an important stage in the development of the negotiation process.
The key stumbling block remains the duration of the ceasefire, according to Asharq Al-Awsat. Initially, a six-month pause was discussed, but as a result of disagreements, this period was reduced to 90 days or even less. In exchange, Hamas is ready to release 13 living Israeli hostages.
The Israeli army continues military pressure
A principled willingness to make a deal does not remove the issue of trust between the parties from the agenda. Since March, the Israeli army has been conducting operations in the Gaza Strip again, expanding security zones and limiting the delivery of humanitarian aid. This approach is officially fixed in the operational plan approved by the military-political Cabinet on May 5. The document, submitted by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizes the goal of the complete elimination of Hamas and the return of all hostages. The plan provides for the seizure of territories, displacement of civilians, attacks on command posts, as well as blocking access of militants to humanitarian resources.
Regarding the release of Idan Alexander from captivity, the Prime Minister's office stressed that Israel had not assumed any new obligations regarding the ceasefire and had not agreed to the release of Palestinian prisoners, including those whom the Jewish state calls terrorists. Netanyahu's office explained that it was only about creating a limited humanitarian corridor necessary for the safe operation to free the prisoner.
"We are at a critical moment: Hamas has a clear and realistic proposal that can lead to the release of our hostages. Negotiations will be conducted under fire, in parallel with preparations for further increasing military pressure until all of Israel's strategic goals are achieved," the prime minister's office said.
Hamas continues to hold 59 hostages in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli estimates, more than half of them have already died. The issue of their fate remains a key one in any negotiation process, as Israel insists on the release of all prisoners, and the Palestinian factions seek guarantees of a cease-fire and lifting of the blockade in exchange for fulfilling these conditions.
Maxim Kharkin was wounded.
On May 3, Hamas released a video with Maxim Kharkin, a native of Donbass, who claimed to have been injured as a result of the latest Israeli shelling of Gaza. This video was another confirmation that he is probably alive.
Prior to this, the Palestinian movement posted a video with Maxim Harkin on April 5. Before that, Hamas also posted a video with a blurred audio track, but Harkin's family recognized his voice on the recording. At the request of the family, the Israeli media refused to publish the video itself and the details of its content.
Maxim is 35 years old. He was born in Donetsk, his mother is a Russian citizen Tala Kharkina. He has a small child, as well as a younger brother. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously informed Izvestia that they had no information about his current condition. In an interview with Izvestia, Hamas said that Harkin was not included in the first list for release because he was allegedly a soldier.
Meanwhile, Harkin's fate is also causing concern in Moscow. After the release in February of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov, who spent 498 days in captivity, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would continue to seek Maxim Kharkin's return home as soon as possible. The issue of his release remains one of the priorities of Russian diplomacy in the region.
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