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Israel-Gaza Conflict: Mediators Propose Short-Term Ceasefire and Prisoner Swap
As the Israeli war on Gaza continues more than a year after its outbreak, mediators striving for a ceasefire seem poised to present a truce proposal "for less than a month" to Hamas.
A source familiar with the negotiations revealed on Wednesday that meetings between Mossad Chief David Barnea, CIA Director Bill Burns, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha—concluded on Monday—discussed a ceasefire lasting "for less than a month." According to reports from AFP, this proposal includes an exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, along with an increase in aid to Gaza.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a prominent Hamas leader, announced on Tuesday that the movement is considering new proposals from mediators (the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar) to end the war. However, he reiterated the group's stance on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a demand that Israel has categorically rejected in recent times.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that he would only agree to a partial deal and not to an end of hostilities.
These statements came following a meeting on Sunday involving the CIA Director, the Israeli Mossad Chief, and the Qatari Prime Minister in Doha, aimed at reaching a new short-term agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange.
It is noteworthy that approximately 50 Israeli captives (out of 100) remain alive and held in Gaza since the October 7 attack last year by Hamas, which targeted Israeli settlements and military bases near the Gaza border.
Meanwhile, Israeli prisons house thousands of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom have not stood trial.
