Israeli and American officials have intensified their diplomatic efforts in Doha to negotiate a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. Mossad chief David Barnea has described his recent talks in Doha as positive, emphasizing the need to reduce gaps to achieve progress. The negotiations are expected to continue next week, with additional discussions required to resolve remaining disputes.
The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, William Burns, is set to join the talks in Doha, where he will meet with the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani. An Israeli delegation, including experts, will also participate to discuss operational issues. Israeli media have reported that the security establishment views this moment as a 'golden opportunity' to reach an agreement and recommends that the political leadership exploit it.
The New York Times has noted that Israeli army leaders believe the exchange deal with Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza is the right path, even if Hamas remains in power. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has also called for a deal to be concluded immediately, urging the return of hostages.
Despite the positive outlook, the negotiations are expected to take a long time, with many issues still unresolved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to send a negotiating delegation to Doha to resume talks, following a response from Hamas to a proposal for a prisoner exchange agreement. However, Netanyahu is reportedly working to abort the deal, fearing it could threaten his political survival.
Protests have escalated in Israel, demanding the release of detainees in Gaza and calling for the overthrow of Netanyahu's government. The Israeli occupation forces continue their war on Gaza, resulting in significant casualties and destruction. The conflict has led to over 125,000 Palestinian casualties, including many children and women, and has caused massive destruction and famine in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The negotiations are seen as a critical step towards a potential ceasefire, with the first phase focusing on the release of 32 hostages. Subsequent phases aim to release more detainees and soldiers. However, skepticism remains regarding Hamas's ability to move forward beyond the initial stage, given the erosion of its forces and resources in Gaza.
The coalition estimates that if Netanyahu approves the outline formed from the talks, there will be a majority in the government to support the deal. The deal's difficult conditions include the withdrawal of IDF forces from populated areas, allowing Hamas to reorganize. Another critical point in the negotiations is the control of the Philadelphia axis, a major smuggling route for Hamas.
The situation also has implications for Lebanon, with Israel warning that Hezbollah's actions to connect Gaza and Lebanon could lead to a broader ceasefire. However, Israel insists that any agreement must include Hezbollah's withdrawal from certain areas, failing which, Israel may resort to military action.
