The American compromise proposal presented to the parties as part of the negotiations in Doha and accepted by Israel provides for a much larger number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages. Information from Qatar thus indicates a doubling of the contingent of prisoners, compared to the number mentioned in the Paris agreement previously accepted by the Jewish state.
While the plan drawn up in the French capital included the release of 400 Palestinian detainees – including 45 who had murdered Israelis – the agreement ratified by Israel in Doha provides for the release of 700 prisoners – including around a hundred with blood on their hands – in exchange of 40 hostages. An agreement which comes close to the demands of Hamas which calls for the release of 800 detainees, including 150 murderers including “figures” like Marwan Barghouti. Israel, however, insists that it will have a veto in deciding which of these terrorists will be released.
The Israeli government would also be willing to consider another aspect of the American compromise proposal: that of the gradual return of the inhabitants of northern Gaza to the tune of several thousand per day, while avoiding the return of young men likely to join the ranks of the Hamas. Finally, Israel continues to oppose any definitive ceasefire and the withdrawal of its troops, as demanded by the terrorist organization.
Jerusalem is now awaiting Hamas’ response, assessing the chances of an agreement at “fifty-fifty”. According to a senior Israeli official, this response could take two to three days.
