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Egyptian mediators have announced that they have received “positive signals” from Israel in response to a new initiative that provides for the gradual release of hostages held by Hamas militants. Reuters reports this with reference to sources familiar with the negotiations.
According to the proposed plan, Hamas is to release five hostages every week. If the conditions are met, Israel – with the support of the United States – will move to the next stage of the agreement. The key condition is Washington’s guarantees of compliance with further clauses of the agreement.
The plan also envisages a temporary ceasefire and further negotiations on the full release of all hostages. In response, Israel may begin a gradual withdrawal of IDF forces from certain areas of the Gaza Strip.
During consultations with mediators, Hamas militants expressed their readiness to provide information on the condition of the detainees and provide video evidence. This is seen as a sign of the group’s readiness to make limited concessions within the humanitarian track.
However, Israeli sources are cautious about the prospect of a breakthrough. Despite the positive signals, the negotiations remain at a difficult stage: the agreement has not yet been finalised, and the parties’ positions on a number of issues remain incompatible.
Analysts note that Egypt’s initiative is one of the most detailed and pragmatic since the outbreak of hostilities in October. The success of the plan will largely depend on US guarantees and the political will of the Israeli government, which is under growing internal pressure over the fate of the hostages.
