Israel is working to secure a deal that would lead to the release of a small number of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a month-long ceasefire, local media reported on Tuesday.
During meetings held on Sunday and Monday in Doha, Qatar, David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, consulted with U.S. William Burns, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), recently met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss efforts aimed at facilitating an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, as reported by Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth.
Barnea reportedly proposed releasing between 11 and 14 Israeli hostages, including all remaining women and elderly individuals, in return for a 30-day ceasefire. The plan also includes the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, with the specific number to be determined during negotiations.
This proposal is expected to be presented to Hamas leaders to see if they are willing to re-engage in talks on a “small deal.” Sources cited by the newspaper indicated that, to encourage Hamas to accept a deal that doesn’t entail a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops, Israel may agree to release more Palestinian prisoners than it would under normal circumstances.
There has been no official confirmation from mediators or Israeli officials regarding this proposal. According to Israel’s Hayom, members of the right-wing governing coalition have expressed their approval, stating that “any proposal that does not involve ending the war can be discussed.”
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the proposal is currently under consideration, while mediators will assess Hamas’s response. Although Hamas has not immediately reacted to the reports, Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri stated at a press conference on Tuesday that the group is open to exploring new proposals for a ceasefire and hostage swap, while previously insisting on implementing agreements from past negotiations.
