US Proposes Release of 900 Palestinian Prisoners in Effort to Broker Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

US proposal presented to bridge gaps in Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations

CIA Director’s proposal aims to bring about a ceasefire

CIA Director Bill Burns recently presented a new proposal in an ongoing effort to negotiate a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The proposal also involves the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

US push for the release of a higher number of Palestinian prisoners

The latest US proposal suggests that Israel release a higher number of Palestinian prisoners to secure the freedom of about 40 Israeli hostages during the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire deal. The deal may require Israel to release 900 Palestinian prisoners in the initial phase, up from the previously discussed number of 700 prisoners.

Multi-party negotiations held in Cairo

The negotiations, held in Cairo over the weekend, involved Qatari, Egyptian, and Israeli officials, along with CIA Director Burns. Hamas representatives also had discussions with officials from Egypt’s Intelligence Service in Cairo, as reported by Egyptian state media.

Achieving unrestricted return and movement for Palestinians

As part of the US proposal, it calls for allowing Palestinian residents of northern Gaza, who have been displaced in the conflict, to return to their homes in the north without any restrictions. However, Israel has expressed concerns about the unrestricted movement of Palestinians and has insisted on inspections and controlled movement of individuals.

Challenges in resolving key points

Israeli negotiators and Hamas have yet to reach an agreement on unrestricted movement of Palestinians, including the redeployment of Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza. These issues are still far from being resolved, and further discussions are required.

Evaluation and response expected in the coming days

The new US proposal has been submitted for study and will be conveyed to the leadership of Hamas in Gaza. However, due to the difficulty of communicating with Hamas leaders who are believed to be hiding in underground tunnels, it may take several days for a response to be received.

Outlook for future negotiations

A senior Hamas official expressed the group’s intention to return to Cairo for further discussions as soon as an opportunity arises. However, the official emphasized the importance of addressing the group’s key demands, including the unrestricted movement of Palestinians.

— All information in this article is sourced from credible sources.