Palestinian Factions Are ‘Open’ to Egyptian-Qatari Mediation in Gaza, Israel Announces ‘Progress’

The Egyptian-Qatari mediation to exchange prisoners between Israel and the Palestinian factions and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza is close to reaching a breakthrough.

Reports indicated the Palestinian factions were "open" to the Egyptian proposal, and Israeli officials announced "progress" in a new prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

An informed source said the intensive contacts over the past two days reflected a "great response" from the Palestinian factions to the Egyptian proposal aimed at ending the war in the Strip.

The source, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, indicated that the factions are more open to the Egyptian proposal and that there is no contradiction between the Qatari proposals and the Egyptian vision.

He noted that the efforts focus on arranging with all parties to move to the implementation phase."

According to previous statements of the head of Egypt's State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan confirmed that Cairo has put forward a proposal that includes three stages ending with a ceasefire.

Rashwan noted that Egypt would give further plan details once those responses are received.

The proposal is an attempt "to bring viewpoints between all concerned parties closer, to stop Palestinian bloodshed and the aggression against the Gaza Strip and restore peace and stability to the region," he said.

The Qatari proposals stipulate a first phase of the prisoner exchange that includes the release of 40 Israeli detainees of the elderly, the sick, women, and minors in exchange for the release of 120 Palestinian prisoners of similar categories.

According to Israeli media quoting government officials, the suggestions call for a ceasefire for a month.

- Egyptian-Qatari integration

Political Professor at Cairo University Tariq Fahmy confirmed that the Egyptian and Qatari moves go hand in hand regarding efforts to stop the war in Gaza and exchange prisoners.

Fahmy added in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Israeli media is trying to drive a wedge between the two sides.

He pointed out that the Israeli War Council is moving to authorize the leaders of the information services in Israel, especially the Mossad, to sign a prisoner exchange agreement with Palestinian factions and enter a temporary truce.

Israeli media reported that there had been "progress" in the discussions aimed at concluding a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, which would lead to the release of between 40 and 50 Israeli detainees in exchange for a ceasefire.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation said Hamas is retracting its request for a "permanent" ceasefire and had now agreed to a temporary truce for a month.

The Corporation confirmed, citing political and security officials, that there is serious talk about a humanitarian deal, but the price that Israel will have to pay in terms of the days of the truce and the release of prisoners will be "heavier."

According to the broadcaster, Qatar is trying to implement a "more complex" deal that includes the Israeli army's withdrawal from the Strip and a political settlement.

Israel insists on destroying the capabilities of the Hamas movement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that if there is an exchange deal, it will be implemented and carried out.

Netanyahu said: "My policy is clear: We continue to fight until all the objectives of the war have been achieved, primarily the elimination of Hamas and the release of all our hostages."

- Palestinian factions respond

Meanwhile, public statements of Hamas leaders still require a complete cessation of the Israeli war on Gaza to move forward with the deal.

However, Israeli reports stated that Doha informed Tel Aviv of changes in Hamas's position and that it has become more "flexible" towards the new Qatari mediation.

During the past two weeks, Cairo hosted talks with delegations from the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.

Fahmy explained that Egypt received "positive" responses regarding the ideas it has put forward about stopping the fighting in Gaza, adding that currently, there are no alternatives to the Egyptian proposal.

The academic specializing in Palestinian and Israeli studies described the response of the Fatah and Hamas movements to the Egyptian proposal as "very good."

He indicated that the Fatah movement no longer has any reservations and that Hamas' military leadership is moving toward accepting the Egyptian proposal.

Fahmy added that the exchange of prisoners and entering into a temporary cessation of fighting "is now close to entering the implementation phase."

The longer-term measures to stop the war require regional and international coordination and are "still underway," he noted.

- The interest of all parties

Former Assistant Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mohamed Hegazy, pointed out that the recent Egyptian vision to end the Gaza war took into account the interests of all parties.

Hegazy pointed out, in an interview with the Middle East News Agency, that Egyptian diplomacy is communicating with all parties and meeting with the Palestinian factions, the Palestinian National Authority, US representatives, Qatar, and the Israeli government of Israel to search for a permanent ceasefire and the release of prisoners and hostages.

He explained that the efforts will be within a framework that leads to stability, reconstructing the Strip, and aiming for a two-state solution.

It is also moving towards achieving reconciliation between the Palestinian factions to establish a "national unity government" or a "government of experts" linking the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Egypt is leading the mediation efforts with Qatari-US participation, as the three countries are guarantors of implementing the ceasefire.

The return of Palestinian refugees from southern Gaza to the north has been difficult, especially due to the extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in the area. Many residents, who had hoped for better conditions than life in tents, have found little relief.

After months of living in tents during the Israeli conflict, they returned to the north only to find few homes available, with some even unable to find space to set up their tents.

The return of nearly 800,000 displaced people to northern Gaza has created significant challenges for the Hamas-led Gaza government. The situation has revealed unexpected difficulties, particularly as Israel has not yet kept its promise to deliver much-needed relief supplies, such as tents and caravans.

The sight of massive destruction has overshadowed the living conditions in Jabalia Camp and the towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun for many returning residents.

This has forced local authorities, according to sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, to expand bulldozing efforts in several key areas, increasing the space available for tents to shelter residents.

However, the task has been complicated by the difficulty of acquiring the necessary equipment to clear rubble and debris.

Mohammed Abu Obeid, a resident of Jabalia Camp, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the situation worsened when authorities were unable to provide sufficient water for residents.

This has led people to rely on water deliveries via trucks, which transport large amounts from Gaza City to the camp. The goal is to provide each family with approximately 50 liters of water daily, but Abu Obeid noted that this amount is hardly enough.

Abu Obeid pointed out that residents are unable to find any nearby power sources. As night falls, they are forced to remain in their tents or, for those who still have homes or managed to salvage a room from heavily damaged buildings, stay there with their families.

“We didn’t expect life to be this grim, this full of hell,” he remarked.

Suhad Abu Hussein, a resident of the camp, shared that she spent her first night back in northern Gaza sleeping in the open.

She waited until the second day, when technical teams managed to clear a small portion of rubble which allowed them to begin setting up available tents.

Hussein explained that she is currently living in a tent just three meters in size. However, she faces significant challenges due to the lack of water and any power source, leaving residents in complete darkness without even basic street lighting.

Gaza’s municipality has warned that the lack of services will make life even harder for displaced people returning to their areas.

They explained that the water supply only covers 40% of the city, and the water available doesn’t meet the residents’ needs due to damage to water networks. More than 75% of the city's central wells have been destroyed.

The municipality stressed that it cannot provide even basic services to the displaced without heavy machinery. It urgently needs equipment to repair wells and sewage networks. Despite limited resources, efforts continue to clear streets and remove rubble to help the displaced return and allow residents to move around.

Israel has blocked the entry of heavy machinery, tents, caravans, and other supplies. Hamas has been in talks with mediators to address these restrictions.

Ahmed Al-Asi, a young man from Beit Lahia, affirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat there are no bakeries in his town or in Jabalia Camp.

He has to travel more than 6 kilometers to Gaza City’s Nasr neighborhood every day to buy bread for his family of 18, spending about 40 shekels ($12) daily.

Palestinian Factions Are ‘Open’ to Egyptian-Qatari Mediation in Gaza, Israel Announces ‘Progress’