Tel Aviv, March 16: A six-week ceasefire is on the cards in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel after both sides communicated to the mediators on stepping down from their earlier demands. While Hamas has agreed to climb down from the demand for a permanent end of the war to a pause for six weeks, Israel has almost agreed to release 1000 Palestinian prisoners including 100 charged with grievous crimes including murder. Israel-Hamas War: US Vice President Kamala Harris Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza for Next Six Weeks
There were a series of meetings in Doha, Cairo, and Paris in the last two days with different negotiators brokering a truce between Israel and Hamas Sources in Israeli intelligence agencies told IANS that Qatar has communicated to the Hamas leadership that it would "not hesitate to deport them from Qatar if they do not come down from unreasonable demands". According to sources, the strong position taken by Qatar and Egypt to prevent any Gazan refugees on its soil if Israel invades Rafah has acted as a trigger for Hamas to rework its earlier demands of a permanent ceasefire. Oscars 2024: Billie Eilish, Ramy Youssef Wear ‘Artists for Ceasefire’ Badges in Support of Gaza, Anatomy of a Fall Actors Wear ‘Palestine’ Flag Pins to Show Solidarity (View Pics)
As per the available information, Hamas would release all Israeli prisoners including soldiers in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli intelligence agencies have communicated to the government that of the 134 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, 32 have died. Hamas, according to sources in the Israeli Prime Minister's office, would release the remaining 102 hostages and send the bodies of 32 hostages in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners. However, it is unclear whether all the hostages would be released in a single go or multiple slots.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 16, 2024 08:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).