Israel has reportedly demanded that high-profile terrorist prisoners slated for release in an upcoming hostage deal be expelled abroad, rather than transferred to Judea and Samaria, Kan 11 News reported Friday evening.
The demand aims to prevent scenes of public celebrations over released prisoners, similar to those witnessed in a previous hostage deal, and to reduce the risk of freed terrorists resuming militant activities.
However, some Israeli officials have criticized the approach, pointing out that exiled terrorists can still orchestrate attacks from abroad. They cited the case of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas leader exiled to Turkey who directed operations in Judea and Samaria before being killed in a UAV strike in Beirut.
Despite the challenges, negotiations are reportedly progressing well. A source involved in the talks noted that while CIA Director William Burns has left Qatar, this does not indicate a breakdown in discussions. Israeli officials confirmed the talks are in their final stages, describing the direction as positive but cautioning that outcomes remain uncertain.
Hamas sources echoed optimism, telling Al-Akhbar newspaper that negotiations are going "excellently," though they acknowledged unresolved issues still remain. Both sides anticipate clearer outcomes within the next week.
