On Sunday, a senior Hamas official told the Saudi channel Al-Arabiya that there was “unprecedented” progress in negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli officials confirmed to Can that “things are progressing quickly”, adding that the next few days will be “decisive”. However, according to sources involved in the negotiations, if Israel is not prepared to meaningfully discuss ending the war, the plan will keep some hostages captive for a long period of time.
Meanwhile, senior Israeli officials said the week that has just begun will be “important” for the negotiations. According to them, Hamas should respond to the proposal submitted to it this week. “There is slow but positive progress,” officials said.
An Israeli source told Kan that the coming week is crucial for negotiations to free the hostages and that, as part of the negotiations, Israel could create a situation in which Hamas finds itself in a real dilemma over whether to whether or not he had to accept its broad outlines.
Palestinian sources involved in the negotiations also expressed cautious optimism for the first time since the start of the current round of contacts about the chances of reaching an agreement.
According to the sources, there is effective bilateral pressure from Qatar and Egypt to reach an agreement, while the United States is intensely pushing the mediators. Palestinian sources said that Turkey, which is beginning to get into the thick of things, is encouraging and pushing Hamas to reach an agreement with Israel.
Swiss
