New breath of negotiations: Hamas promises to release half of hostages

The Palestinian Hamas movement has agreed to release half of the Israeli hostages held in exchange for some of the Palestinian prisoners. The deal may take place within the framework of a 60-day ceasefire. The withdrawal of Israeli troops from some areas of Gaza and the start of negotiations on a permanent truce are also being discussed. Negotiations have resumed after a lull and are being coordinated with the participation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States. Read more about the situation in the Middle East in the Izvestia article.

Another hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas

The Hamas movement has agreed to release half of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of some Palestinian prisoners. The exchange will have to take place within the framework of a 60-day ceasefire, according to the Al-Kahira al-Ikhbariya TV channel.

It is reported that the proposal of the Egyptian and Qatari mediators, to which the Hamas leaders agreed, also includes the withdrawal of the Israeli military from several areas of Gaza in order to ensure the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave. In addition, negotiations on a permanent truce and a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Hamas will have to begin from the first day when the ceasefire regime comes into force, the channel's sources added.

Total control: Israel has decided to occupy Gaza

Netanyahu's cabinet approved the plan after ten hours of consultations.

Hamas has not yet officially commented on this information. It is also unknown at the moment when the transfer of hostages may take place.

Earlier, on August 16, Israel imposed a number of conditions on the Palestinian Hamas movement to conclude a cease-fire deal. Among them is the surrender of weapons by Hamas supporters and the simultaneous return of all hostages, even the dead, in exchange for amnesty for a number of Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, Israel demands the demilitarization of the entire Gaza Strip under the control of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and a change of government to representatives who will maintain peaceful relations with Israel.

The next day, on August 17, Al Hadath TV channel, citing sources, reported that the mediators demanded that Hamas prepare a response to their latest proposal to resume consultations as soon as possible. According to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, the movement responded that it was ready to accept, without amendments, an initiative for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, including the release of 10 hostages, a 60-day truce and the redeployment of Israeli forces.

Why are the negotiations reviving now

The negotiation process between Hamas and Israel was interrupted in Qatar in July, when West Jerusalem and Washington withdrew their delegations from Doha, and Hamas said that dialogue with Israel in the conditions of the ongoing blockade was "meaningless."

At the end of August, the mediation initiative received a new lease of life — the negotiation channels were reopened, and the parties claim that they are striving for a cease-fire. On August 13, the Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo: Egypt, as one of the key mediators, is cooperating on the truce with Qatar and the United States. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty said that the goal is to return to the proposal for a 60—day ceasefire with the exchange of hostages and the provision of humanitarian access. The creation of a transitional administration of 15 Palestinian technocrats for six months under the leadership of the Palestinian National Authority is also being discussed.

Lifting of the guard: Hamas proposed to freeze the activities of its military wing

Mediators in the settlement of the conflict have revived contacts on the ceasefire in Gaza

As Palestinian security expert Mohammed al-Masri previously explained to Izvestia, one of the controversial issues was Israel's proposal to freeze the activities of the armed wing of Hamas, the Izzaddin al-Qassam Brigades, with the transfer of weapons for storage. This proposal was put forward at the initiative of negotiators from Turkey, Egypt and Qatar. It is also reported that American President Donald Trump is interested in the initiative, and Arab mediators are currently working on its details.