Israeli Channel 13 said that Israel is considering releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a broad exchange deal, according to which a large number of Hamas taken prisoners in the Gaza Strip would be released.
The Israeli Channel 13 quoted political officials in Israel, which it said were aware of the progress of matters, that Israel is ready and willing to discuss the release of security prisoners in exchange for a large and broad deal that includes the release of many kidnapped persons.
The channel 13 continued quoted officials, “We’re not talking about those small deals – but only about a large and broad deal, and of course such a deal must reach the plenary session of the Israeli government in a timely manner”.
According to unnamed senior Israeli official, “There are many options on the table, but there is nothing concrete at the moment”.
As for the many reports about progress in communications, senior Israeli officials say that there are many communications, on many sides, but in Israel they don’t know of any significant progress.
Earlier Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We would like to put aside all kinds of empty rumors that we hear of all kinds, and reiterate one thing that is clear, there will be no ceasefire without the release of our hostages… Everything else is meaningless”.
Hamas is holding about 240 Israelis in the Gaza Strip, seeking to exchange them for about 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Hamas had previously released, through Qatari and Egyptian mediation, two elderly Israeli women for humanitarian reasons, in addition to two American women for the same reasons, while the Israeli army said that it was able to free an Israeli woman in Gaza in an operation whose details weren’t revealed.
The escalation between the Hamas and Israel continues, after Hamas launched, at dawn on Saturday, October 7, the operation al Aqsa Flood, in which thousands of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel, and its forces stormed Israeli settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip, killing and capture large number of Israeli soldiers and settlers.
Israel responded by launching Operation Iron Swords, threatening Hamas to pay a heavy price for its attack.
