Hostage deal appears to be close to completion

Hostage deal appears to be close to completion

A hostage deal between Israel and Hamas appears to be close to completion, with key provisions already agreed, according to several Arab media sources. The discussions, reported Wednesday, indicate the deal could include the deportation of senior Palestinian security officials to Qatar and Turkey.

Saudi media outlet Asharq Al-Awsat quoted a Hamas official as saying a deal was “imminent.” This first part of the agreement, planned for a period of 45 to 60 days, would see the release by Hamas of around thirty hostages, living and deceased, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Al-Hadath, another Saudi media outlet, reported that Hamas would notably release sick and elderly soldiers and women held hostage.

In return, Israeli forces would withdraw from towns in the Gaza Strip, while maintaining their presence in the Philadelphia and Netazrim corridors, located near the Egyptian border and running through central Gaza. Palestinian women and children would also be allowed to return to northern Gaza.

Sources close to the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post that an agreement could be reached within a month, marking significant progress. The statements followed a Washington Post report quoting a Hamas official who said the group had given in to its demands for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in exchange for the hostages.

A Hamas member said there was now a strong desire to end the war “at all costs”. This development was confirmed by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said that the agreement to release the hostages was closer than ever. This assertion was echoed by a senior Hamas official, who warned that the deal would depend on the absence of obstacles from Netanyahu.

In short, these diplomatic advances represent a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, despite the complexity and persistent tensions in the region.

Jforum.fr