The Media Line: Israeli, Egyptian Officials Reveal Details of Pending Hostage Release, Cease-fire – Exclusive to TML

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Exclusive to TML: Israeli, Egyptian Officials Reveal Details of Pending Hostage Release, Cease-fire 

Sources reveal a multistage plan involving prisoner exchange and Gaza’s future stability 

By Majdi Halabi/The Media Line 

Despite ongoing Israeli military operations in eastern Rafah and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office emphasizing that the proposed cease-fire supposedly accepted by Hamas falls short of Israel’s demands, negotiations are nearing a breakthrough. Anonymous Israeli and Egyptian sources involved in the talks have shared details with The Media Line, indicating that the cease-fire agreement is nearly ready and awaits the arrival of the Israeli delegation in Doha or Cairo to finalize the specifics. 

According to the Israeli source, in the initial phase of the agreement, 33 Israeli hostages would be exchanged for 700 Palestinian prisoners, along with humanitarian gestures in Gaza. This phase will last 60 days, during which parties will negotiate the continuation of the cease-fire and the future governance of Gaza. According to the Israeli official, Hamas was persuaded to agree to avoid terms like “end of the war,” which were deemed unhelpful at this stage. 

The senior Israeli official praised Qatar for its efforts in negotiating the agreement. He noted that Qatar played a significant role in persuading Hamas to accept Egyptian and Israeli conditions, despite initial resistance from Hamas leaders. The official further emphasized that Hamas would not be part of Gaza’s future arrangements and that Israel would continue to pursue the group’s leaders wherever they may be. 

An Egyptian source corroborated Qatar’s significant role, stating that Qatar pressured Hamas into agreeing to release all Israeli women, children, and sick individuals in the first phase. The second phase would involve the release of female and male soldiers in exchange for thousands more prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza’s border, allowing residents of northern Gaza to return home without Israeli interference or presence on the roads. 

This arrangement seeks to establish a lasting settlement in Gaza, including the exchange of bodies and the end of hostilities. The Egyptian source indicated that after the conflict, Arab forces and the Palestinian Authority would maintain order and assist in Gaza’s reconstruction. However, Israel reserves the right to return to Gaza if future threats arise to its citizens or neighboring communities.