Gaza ceasefire talks reach prisoner exchange stage

An Arabic newspaper claimed significant progress in the prisoner exchange talks between Israel and the Palestinian resistance and announced the imminent start of the preliminary phase for establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

News ID: 85419

Date: 09 December 2024 - 10:14

TEHRAN (Defapress) - According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, progress in the prisoner exchange talks in Gaza emphasized that the talks have reached the stage of exchanging names of prisoners through mediators.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed added that technical committees from Hamas, Egypt, and Israel have begun work on the details of implementing the prisoner exchange agreement. Hamas has submitted an initial list of the names of its desired prisoners to the Egyptian mediator, and the Israeli delegation is reviewing the names and proposals.

The source clarified that the two sides are unprecedentedly serious about reaching an agreement, and in addition to Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States are monitoring the ongoing negotiations.

According to the report, the Hamas negotiating team, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo yesterday, Sunday, and during their few hours in Egypt, they met with Brigadier General Hassan Rashad, the head of the country's intelligence service, and handed over a list of names of Palestinian prisoners they want to be released. The list includes the names of sick, elderly prisoners, and several other prisoners whose release the resistance insists on.

On the other hand, an Israeli delegation is also scheduled to arrive in Cairo in the coming hours to review the proposed clauses for signing a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, including the proposed keys to the prisoner exchange agreement and the areas from which the occupying army can withdraw during the agreement period.

According to the report, this phase is intended to serve as a transitional period, paving the way for a permanent ceasefire agreement and an end to the war in the region.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed wrote that the prisoner exchange agreement will likely include the release of 4 American nationals, although they do not meet the conditions for prisoner release during the preliminary or transitional phase.