Middle East crisis: Hamas signals no breakthrough in ceasefire talks
In a major shift, Israeli negotiators have indicated that Israel could release a group of high-profile Palestinian prisoners serving long prison sentences in exchange for the freedom of some of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, officials say.
The change in Israel’s negotiating strategy, which has not been publicly announced, is important because it could convince Hamas to release Israeli soldiers captured in October and agree to a deal that would temporarily pause fighting in the Gaza Strip.
International efforts to broker a ceasefire had stalled over Israel’s refusal to release Palestinians convicted of murder and commit to a permanent ceasefire, two of the measures Hamas is seeking.
Now Israeli negotiators have privately agreed to a US proposal that would lead to the release of five female Israeli soldiers for 15 Palestinians convicted on major terrorism charges, according to two officials with knowledge of the ongoing mediation efforts. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, which took place last week during a meeting with officials from Egypt, Qatar and the United States in Paris.
The idea is seen as a basis for negotiations with Hamas, which has not responded to the proposal. The Israeli government had previously avoided such a concession, in part because the release of Palestinians convicted of major acts of terror, even in exchange for Israeli hostages, would arouse significant domestic criticism.
Asked about the negotiators’ position, the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, declined to comment.
Other elements of a possible deal – including the duration of a ceasefire and Hamas’s demand for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza – are still under discussion.
Still, the idea could boost talks as officials rush to seal a deal before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in about two weeks. An Israeli delegation was expects to arrive in Qatar Monday to continue negotiations with international mediators. According to one of the officials, Israeli intelligence officers believe that Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, has become more receptive in recent weeks to an agreement that would in theory allow only a temporary ceasefire – with the hope that it would one day become permanent become. in situ.
The idea is part of a broader U.S. proposal that would allow the release of 40 of about 100 hostages captured in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks and believed to be alive in Gaza. Among them are five female Israeli soldiers and civilians, including the sick, wounded and elderly. It does not include male Israeli soldiers, whose release will be the subject of separate negotiations, one of the officials said.
Seven of the 35 civilian prisoners to be released are women who Israel says should have been freed during the last ceasefire and prisoner exchange in November. For the release of these seven women, Israel has proposed releasing 21 Palestinian prisoners, the same three-to-one ratio observed during the previous exchange.
More Palestinians would be released for each remaining hostage, including six for every civilian man aged 50 and over and twelve for every sick or injured man. For each of the five female Israeli soldiers in captivity, Israel would release three “heavy” prisoners – those allegedly responsible for major attacks – and fifteen others.
Israel has often agreed to lopsided prisoner exchanges in conflicts with Hamas. In 2011 it is More than 1,000 Palestinians released prisoners to secure the freedom of a captured soldier, Gilad Shalit.
Julian E Barnes contributed reporting from Washington.