According to a report on the Saudi channel "Al-Sharq," Hamas has indicated that on Saturday, 4 Israeli female hostages will be released in exchange for the release of terrorists, after which the IDF will withdraw from the Netzarim axis and from Al-Rashid Street to Salah al-Din, and Gaza residents will be able to return from south to north. Additionally, the entry of 600 aid trucks per day to the Strip will continue.
In an unexpected devlopment, Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says he wants to accelerate negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza hostage deal, potentially beginning talks before the currently agreed 16-day ceasefire milestone.
In an exclusive interview with Walla News, Al Thani revealed he plans to discuss this proposal with Mossad Director Dadi Barnea later this week. An Israeli official responded positively to the initiative, stating, "We have no problem starting talks about phase two."
The current agreement's framework allows for a four-week negotiation period starting on day 16 of the ceasefire. This phase would focus on securing the release of male hostages under 50 still held by Hamas, in exchange for a complete IDF withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Under the existing terms, the ceasefire would extend beyond its initial 42-day period as long as negotiations continue. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have committed to facilitating talks until an agreement is reached.
However, officials from all sides acknowledge the challenges ahead. Senior Israeli, American, and Qatari sources emphasize that this second phase of negotiations will likely prove significantly more complex than the first, requiring major strategic concessions from both Israel and Hamas.
The proposal to accelerate talks comes as mediators seek to maintain momentum in the peace process while managing expectations about the difficult negotiations ahead.
Walla contributed to this article.
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