Negotiations regarding a prisoner exchange deal involving female detainees and child prisoners between Israel and Hamas have reached an advanced stage. The American website "Politico" reported that Israeli officials are expressing significant optimism about reaching a swap deal, despite the ongoing fighting between the two sides for 36 days. However, these officials, whose names were not disclosed due to the sensitive nature of the detainee situation, emphasized that such a deal—if it occurs—would be temporary and limited.
The website quoted two officials stating that the deal would likely involve several dozen Israeli children and elderly individuals, some of whom hold dual nationalities, including American nationals. They noted that formalizing humanitarian truces in northern Gaza has aided progress in the exchange negotiations through Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously approved humanitarian truces lasting four hours each day at the request of the U.S., following approximately two weeks of pressure from President Joe Biden's administration. However, officials warned that several unresolved issues could jeopardize the deal, including Hamas's refusal to provide a complete list of detainees it holds in Gaza. According to these officials, Hamas is demanding a ceasefire or humanitarian truce lasting up to a week.
Former Mossad officer David Miden, who previously served as the coordinator for prisoners and detainees under Netanyahu, stated, "Something is happening beneath the surface." He added that the humanitarian truces approved by Netanyahu could contribute to "some positive steps."
