Israeli media says deal near on prisoner swap between Israel, Hamas

Israeli media said Saturday that an agreement on a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas is nearly finalized, Anadolu Agency reports.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported, based on political sources, that 90% of the details have been agreed upon.

Neither Hamas nor the mediating countries, Egypt, Qatar and the US, have made an official statement confirming the agreement.

The main point of disagreement is said to be Hamas’ demand for guarantees from Israel regarding the implementation of the second phase of the agreement.

As previously reported by Israeli sources, Hamas is concerned that after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implements the first phase of and achieves his political goals, Israel will continue to attack the Gaza Strip.

READ: Palestinian Sports Media Association says 708 athletes killed in Gaza by Israel

Although the exact details of the first and second phases of a potential agreement have not been fully disclosed, sources from the newspaper suggested that the first phase involves the release of elderly and sick prisoners for humanitarian reasons, while the second involves the release of military personnel.

Following progress in negotiations, Steven Witkoff, a representative of US President-elect Donald Trump, is reported to have made a surprise visit Saturday to Israel, where he met Netanyahu.

Witkoff expressed optimism to Netanyahu, saying they believe a deal could be reached soon.

Witkoff, who Trump announced as his pick for special representative for the Middle East, pointed out that the main obstacle to a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement in Gaza is Hamas’ skepticism about US commitments due to Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.

READ: 70 children killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza in last 5 days, civil defense says

Israel’s state television, KAN, citing foreign sources, reported Friday that Tel Aviv agreed to advance negotiations on the second phase of the agreement while the first phase is being implemented, to ensure the continuation of the process until all prisoners are released.

The prisoner swap and ceasefire talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US have been interrupted several times due to new conditions imposed by Netanyahu.

Israeli military attacks on Gaza, meanwhile, continue without pause.

Israeli officials have made statements about occupying parts of Gaza, creating buffer zones and establishing new illegal settlements in the enclave. Hamas, on the other hand, wants a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a complete halt to attacks.

Opposition groups and families of prisoners in Israel accuse Netanyahu of obstructing the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement.

The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 46,500 victims, most of them women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

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