Watan-The Hebrew news site “Walla” revealed on Friday that Israel informed the mediators that it rejects most of the comments of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, but is ready for negotiations based on the “Paris Agreement”.
The report mentioned that Tel Aviv handed over Israel’s response to Hamas’s paper regarding the prisoner exchange deal to Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
After the Israeli War Council discussed Hamas’s response for several hours, talks were held between senior Israeli officials and their counterparts in Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, during which Israeli messages were conveyed.
Details of Israel’s response to Hamas’s conditions
The occupation expressed to the mediators its rejection of the ratio set by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli prisoners.
Israel also conveyed to the mediators in Qatar and Egypt its rejection of the demands of the Palestinian resistance regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque and the situation of Palestinian prisoners in its jails, stating that they are unacceptable and have no connection to the current deal.
According to “Walla”, the occupation refused to discuss the lifting of the blockade on Gaza during the prisoner exchange negotiations, and Israel will not accept withdrawing its forces from the center of the Gaza Strip and the return of the displaced to the north in the first stage. However, the occupation is ready to withdraw from city centers in the sector.
The site added that this response, which was conveyed to the mediators, “indicates that despite Netanyahu’s harsh response, Tel Aviv does not close the door to negotiations on a possible hostage deal”.
Israel told the mediators that it opposes Hamas’s request to permanently add the phrase “in a permanent manner” to the clause that stipulates indirect negotiations for peace in the first stage of the deal.
The reason for this is “the occupation’s refusal to commit to ending the war after completing the implementation of the hostage release deal”, according to the Israeli official who spoke to “Walla”.
Israel also clarified to the mediators in Qatar and Egypt that it is not prepared to discuss, as part of the negotiations on the hostage deal, Hamas’s condition to lift the blockade on Gaza.
And Israel confirmed to the mediators that “the key to releasing Palestinian prisoners provided by Hamas in its response is unreasonable”.