Reports of Division within Israel, Hamas on the ‘Exchange Deal’

Israeli protest against the Netanyahu government, demanding the speedy release of hostages held by Hamas (Reuters)

The Israeli government is waiting for Hamas' response to the Qatari proposal for a prisoner exchange deal before it announces its final position, according to Israeli sources on Sunday.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the Israeli government expects a response from Qatar on Sunday after the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, received Hamas's direct response and returned to his country.
On Friday, the Israeli cabinet discussed the deal in an expanded meeting that witnessed many disagreements regarding the treaty's terms finalized at the Paris meeting, which was held a few days ago with the participation of US, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt officials.
An Israeli official confirmed to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority that the government has not approved anything yet, mainly since Hamas had not provided its answer either.
According to Israeli media leaks, the proposal will be extended to 142 days.
A source who participated in the session said that the first batch would include the release of 35 captives, including women, the elderly, and the sick, in exchange for a 35-day ceasefire, one day of ceasefire for each hostage.
It will be followed by negotiations on the second batch, which will last seven days to release 100 other detainees, also representing a day of ceasefire for each one.
The positions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials showed that it would be difficult to pass the deal in its current form.
Netanyahu said in the session that three conditions cannot be accepted: ending the war before eliminating Hamas, releasing all Palestinian detainees, and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip.
He called on the ministers to unite and remain in the government after they threatened that they would withdraw if this deal were approved.
As of Saturday evening, Hamas had yet to respond to the proposal due to broader consultations it began with the factions and the difficulty of communicating with Gaza leadership.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas's internal divisions prevent the Palestinian movement from signing off on the deal.
According to a report by the newspaper, the prevailing dynamic within Hamas has reversed, as its leader in Gaza, Yahya al-Sinwar, supports a temporary truce, while its leaders abroad are demanding more concessions and want to negotiate a permanent cease.
The newspaper quoted officials familiar with the negotiations, whose names were not mentioned, that Gaza officials were ready to accept the proposal for an initial six-week pause in fighting so the fighters could regroup and more aid could enter Gaza.
Sinwar is ready to accept a six-week pause, thinking it would give Hamas's forces time to regroup and allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza, officials said.
Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh argued that the group needs to negotiate a permanent ceasefire guaranteed by foreign powers, along with a plan to rebuild Gaza.
A Hamas source denied internal disagreements or disputes between the military arm and political bureau.
He asserted the internal coordination and comprehensive agreement between Hamas and other organizations.
Hamas officials said that the movement is considering the proposed interim truce, which would include a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of Israeli detainees for Palestinian prisoners.
On Friday, Haniyeh's office said he held a phone call with his counterpart in the Islamic Jihad movement, Ziad al-Nakhala, and the two asserted that any agreement with Israel to release the hostages must include a complete cessation of fighting, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, ending the siege, rebuilding the Strip, and liberating Palestinian security prisoners.
It does not seem that Israel has agreed to these expensive demands after Tel Aviv pledged to dismantle Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack in which about 1,200 people were killed and 253 others detained.
In November 2023, Hamas released 105 civilians, most of whom were women and children.
The Israeli army says that 29 of the hostages are not alive, based on intelligence information and results obtained by the forces operating in Gaza.
Hamas has been holding the remains of Israeli soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014. It is also believed that it holds Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayyid al-Lathi, who are thought to be alive after entering Hamas on their own in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
An Israeli official confirmed to NBC News that it is unclear whether the new deal will bear fruit.
"I don't think it's more than 50/50 it will materialize," the unnamed senior official says.
Unnamed ministers also told Channel 12 news that a deal is far from certain.
The deal will likely await the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Middle East on Sunday on his fifth visit to the region since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Hamas.