FALCON POWERS – According to the Axios website, Israeli officials have reportedly informed their Egyptian counterparts that Israel is prepared to grant “one last chance” to reach an agreement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for the release of “hostages” in the Gaza Strip before proceeding with the invasion of the city of Rafah.
One Israeli official told Axios that Israel has informed Egypt of its seriousness in its preparations for a ground military operation in Rafah. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (“Kan 11”) reported that “the security agencies and the majority of the political level support giving the green light to the new proposal presented by Egypt, which includes the release of dozens of detainees in the humanitarian phase in exchange for a temporary ceasefire.”
Sources familiar with the details were quoted as saying that while the majority at the political level expressed their agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reservations about such a temporary deal and requested an examination of a comprehensive agreement.
One source suggested that an agreement could be reached “within a few days.”
During Israeli security discussions, it was revealed that Hamas does not demand a ceasefire in exchange for the first phase of the deal. An Israeli source participating in the negotiations stated that “the number of detainees to be released in the current phase being discussed ranges from 20 to 40 detainees, and for every additional detainee released, Hamas will receive another day of ceasefire.”
An informed Israeli official, who was involved in the negotiations and talks with the Egyptian delegation that arrived in Tel Aviv earlier on Friday, described them as being conducted in a good and constructive spirit in terms of the willingness of both parties to reach an agreement, according to Kan 11.
He added that “Egypt is pushing towards reaching a deal and has given Israel the green light for almost all the conditions raised, and insisted on the release of 33 detainees.”
The Israeli official said, “We have made it clear to Egypt that we are very serious about a large-scale operation in Rafah, and that Israel will not allow Hamas to slow down or prevent reaching a deal.”
“We are entering crucial and decisive days regarding the decisions on the deal,” he said, noting that “Hamas has not yet entered the negotiations, so it is not possible to evaluate the chances of reaching a deal at the present time.”
On his part, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Friday, “I believe there is a new effort by Qatar, Egypt, and Israel to try to find a way to move forward in talks regarding Gaza.”
