Egypt Daily News – Sources reported to on Tuesday that “the transfer of prisoners holding American citizenship in Gaza to safe places” had begun in preparation for reaching an exchange deal with Israel in Gaza.
The sources said, “Hamas began dividing the prisoners into groups in preparation for implementing the agreement.” The sources explained that “Hamas requested international and American guarantees to bind Israel” to the terms of the agreement.
The sources indicated that “coordination has begun with the mediators and the Red Cross regarding the receipt of prisoners.”
Sources reported to Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath channels on Tuesday that “the transfer of prisoners holding American citizenship in Gaza to safe places” had begun in preparation for reaching an exchange deal with Israel in Gaza.
The sources said, “Hamas began dividing the prisoners into groups in preparation for implementing the agreement.” The sources explained that “Hamas requested international and American guarantees to bind Israel” to the terms of the agreement.
The sources indicated that “coordination has begun with the mediators and the Red Cross regarding the receipt of prisoners.”
At the same time, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced on Tuesday that “Hamas finally understood the necessity of completing the exchange deal.” He said, “The Gaza agreement will guarantee the return of prisoners and reduce human suffering.”
Blinken added: “We want to create a path for a Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel,” stressing “the rejection of the forced displacement of Gaza’s residents.”
Blinken urged the Palestinians to “form an interim administration for the Gaza Strip,” and called on the Palestinian Authority “to participate in the administration of Gaza,” adding, “We will prevent Hamas from returning to rule in Gaza.”
He pointed out that Washington would launch “an initiative to train and prepare security forces in Gaza.”
With the reaching of a positive and advanced level in the negotiations on the final details of the Gaza agreement, according to the Qatari Foreign Ministry, US Secretary of State Blinken, today, Tuesday, presents a plan to rebuild and organize Gaza after the war between Israel and Hamas, according to what three American sources reported to the “Axios”. .
According to Axios, the plan is based on involving the Palestinian Authority in the future role.
Before that, US President Joe Biden said that the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip was about to become a reality. Biden said that the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip is about to become a reality, adding in his speech that the mediators are working quickly to reach the deal and release the hostages in Gaza.
For his part, US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed that the Gaza agreement may be completed by the end of the week.
Today, sessions are being held in Doha in the presence of Trump and Biden’s envoys and the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, to complete the rest of the details of the agreement and to put the final touches on the deal.
This time, Washington is throwing all its weight in order for Israel and Hamas to accept the terms of the final draft of the agreement, and the presence of the envoys clearly shows this American pressure in what appears to be coordination between the two administrations.
Today, sessions will be held in the Qatari capital, Doha, to finalize the details. This meeting will witness the presence of Steve Witkoff, envoy of US President-elect Donald Trump, in addition to Brett McGurk, envoy of current President Biden, in addition to the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet.
But the question now is: Are there expectations for a date for announcing the deal?
Before that, sources revealed that Israel had handed over a list of Palestinian prisoners it intends to release, and it did not include Marwan Barghouti. Sources indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting security consultations related to the deal.
An Israeli official said that the agreement may be concluded soon within days, while a Palestinian official said that the information received from Doha is “very promising,” and that the gaps between the two parties are currently being narrowed.
The first phase of the deal, according to Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath sources, includes a ceasefire for 42 days. During which Hamas will release 33 detainees in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian children and women. Israel will also release 50 prisoners for every Israeli female soldier. Hamas has prisoners, including prisoners who were rearrested after the Gilad Shalit deal in 2011.
In the second phase, Israeli forces will withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.
The first phase of the deal, includes a ceasefire for 42 days. During which Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian children and women. Israel will also release 50 prisoners for every Israeli female soldier. Hamas has prisoners, including prisoners who were rearrested after the Gilad Shalit deal in 2011.
In the second phase, Israeli forces will withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.
Sources also revealed some outstanding points, namely Israel’s desire for a two-kilometre-deep buffer zone north and east of Gaza.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will conduct security consultations related to the deal, and asked members of his government to prepare to accommodate the prisoners who will be released from Gaza. Our correspondent added that Netanyahu will meet six families of the prisoners today to inform them of the details of the deal.
The Israeli side seems optimistic this time about the closeness of the deal, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke about the matter.
Sa’ar announced progress in the negotiations regarding the hostage agreement, indicating that work is underway in coordination with the United States to reach an agreement, but this does not prevent some objections, of course, from the ministers of the right-wing parties.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the potential exchange deal in the Gaza Strip as a surrender and a disaster for Israel’s national security, adding that he would not be part of it. However, opposition leader Yair Lapid believes that Netanyahu no longer needs either Smotrich or Ben Gvir, and that he has an offer for the Prime Minister that will serve as a political safety net to get the deal done.
