Kiddush at the Hatofim square, February 23, 2024/Hatofim families headquarters
Israel clarified today (Friday) to Egypt and Qatar that it will not hold another round of talks regarding the deal for the release of the abductees, until Hamas presents a list of the abductees who are alive, and provides a serious response regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners that the mediators proposed to be released as part of the deal, an Israeli senior official said.
why is it important
Before the round of negotiations that took place this week in Doha, Qatar and Egypt promised Israel that if it sent a delegation to talks in Doha regarding the humanitarian aspects of the abductees' deal, they would bring answers from Hamas regarding which of the abductees is alive and would pressure Hamas to be flexible regarding the number of prisoners it demands to be released.
Senior Israeli officials said that after three days of talks in Qatar, the Israeli delegation returned to Israel last night without answers.
"The mediators promised that Hamas would give numbers and that didn't happen," said an Israeli official.
Demonstration for the release of the kidnapped, February 22, 2024/Niv Aharonson
in the news center
As part of the outline presented by the US, Egypt and Qatar in Paris last Friday, Israel will release about 400 Palestinian prisoners, including those who murdered Israelis for about 40 Israeli abductees, including the women who remained captive, the female soldiers who remained captive, men over 50 and men who are in serious medical condition.
The outline also included about six weeks of truce in the fighting in Gaza - a day of truce for every living abductee who is released - as well as a readiness for an initial and gradual return of Palestinian citizens to the northern Gaza Strip.
Behind the Scenes
Egyptian intelligence officials contacted Israel in the last day and offered to hold another round of talks in Cairo next week.
A senior Israeli official noted that Israel refused the offer and clarified that until it receives answers from Hamas it will be impossible to move forward in the negotiations.
"There is no point in starting another round of talks until we receive the lists of which of the abductees are alive and until Hamas gives its answer regarding the "keys" that define how many prisoners will be released for each abductee," said an Israeli official.
What next
Senior Israeli officials said that they are waiting to see if the American pressure on the mediators and the personal talks that President Biden had with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar last night will bear fruit during the weekend and make Hamas provide answers.
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