2024-02-24 16:36:02
The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” reported, on Saturday, that there had been “significant progress” in the negotiations that took place in the French capital, Paris, between representatives of the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar regarding the ongoing war in Gaza.
Sources familiar with the details of the meeting, which took place on Friday evening in Paris, told the Haaretz newspaper that the talks were “very good,” noting that “significant progress had been made.”
For its part, the Axios website revealed, on Saturday, some details of the new proposal presented by the mediators to the Israelis during the Paris meeting.
The framework presented to the Israelis proposes that Hamas would release approximately 40 hostages being held in Gaza, in exchange for a six-week ceasefire and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Other Israeli sources also reported that the new truce agreement stipulates the exchange of 40 Israeli detainees in exchange for between 200 and 300 Palestinian prisoners, adding that the truce in Gaza will extend for a month and a half.
US President Joe Biden administration officials said they want to try to reach an agreement before the beginning of the month of Ramadan, that is, a little more than two weeks from now.
If the Israeli Cabinet approves the new framework proposed by the United States and other mediators, follow-up meetings will be held in the coming days.
A source familiar with the talks confirmed that the transition to detailed negotiations still depends on the Qatari and Egyptian negotiators convincing Hamas to agree to the new framework as well.
Details of the Paris meeting
The Axios website had previously revealed some details and outcomes from the recent Paris meeting.
An Axios correspondent said that during the meeting in Paris, a new and updated plan for the hostage release deal was agreed upon.
The Israeli delegation, which included the head of the Mossad, the head of the Shin Bet, and representatives of the Israeli army, Major General Nitzan Alon and Major General Oren Seter, returned to Israel at dawn on Saturday.
The two sources commenting on the content of the talks explained that there has been progress to an extent that may allow moving on to negotiations on the details of the agreement, such as the number and identity of the prisoners, who will be released as part of the deal.
Israel’s Defense Cabinet is expected to receive an update from the negotiating team and make a decision on additional steps, perhaps as early as this evening.
A source familiar with the negotiations confirmed that progress is being made towards more detailed negotiations.
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