Against the backdrop of reports on the negotiations taking place between Israel and Hamas for the release of the hostages held captive by the terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Al-Arabiya network reported Friday evening that "the Palestinian factions demanded major changes in the Egyptian document."
Nevertheless, it was reported that Egypt was still waiting for the final response of the Palestinian terrorist organizations to its initiative and that Egypt was open to making changes to the initiative.
Weapons in the children's room: Kfir's brigade combat team operating in Khan Yunis // Photo: IDF Spokesperson
According to a Saudi report, Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar is ostensibly inclined to accept an Egyptian-Qatari initiative to release hostages, which includes a 20-day ceasefire in the first stage. However, a spokesman for the terror group's military wing declared yesterday that they stand behind the condition for a total cessation of fighting, a condition Sinwar also emphasized in a message reported by Al Jazeera this week. In addition, another senior Hamas official said that a delegation of the terrorist organization would not arrive in Egypt anytime soon, and no date had yet been set.
Earlier this evening, a member of Hamas' political bureau, Husam Badran, told Al Jazeera: "We are open to any initiatives to stop the aggression against our people in Gaza. We will discuss all proposals with the different factions. We have principles, and the first thing we want is an end to the aggression against our people. A prisoner exchange will come after the cessation of aggression."
The destruction in Gaza, photo: AFP.
According to the report, the first phase of the Egyptian initiative will include a humanitarian pause for a period of two weeks with the possibility of extension, during which 40 abductees – women and children, as well as men, mainly adults and patients – will be released. Israel, for its part, will release 120 Palestinian prisoners from the same categories, during which time the fighting will stop, the tanks will retreat, and medical aid, food, fuel and cooking gas will be delivered to the Gaza Strip.
In the second stage, internal Palestinian talks under Egyptian auspices will be held to end the schism and establish a technocratic government to oversee humanitarian issues and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, while preparing for general elections and the Palestinian presidency. The third phase according to the Egyptian plan will be a full ceasefire and a comprehensive deal for the release of Palestinian abductees and prisoners, which will include all Israeli military personnel (soldiers) in the possession of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other organizations, during which the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel will release, including those sentenced to long terms and those detained by Israel after October 7, will be agreed. In addition, according to the initiative, at this stage there will be an Israeli withdrawal from the cities of the Gaza Strip, and the displaced persons will be able to return to the northern Gaza Strip.
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