In the whirlwind of sensations, it was the day of cautious optimism. The ceasefire negotiation between Israel And Hamas it may really have reached a turning point. This, at least, is what appears in the authoritative media of moderate Arab countries involved in the negotiations. The first to support it were the Saudi newspaper “Ashraq” and the Egyptian channel “Al Rad”, according to which there had been intense contacts between mediators and negotiators on both sides on the issue of the hostages to be released in the first phase, and according to another source Egyptian government would have reached an agreement “on many points”, even without a definitive ceasefire, while “there would be few left to define”.
NEGOTIATION
In the evening, however, the Times of Israel warned: «A senior Hamas official insists that the terrorist group “will not under any circumstances” accept a truce in Gaza that does not explicitly include a complete end to the war». The official, however, spoke anonymously. In reality the only certain thing at the moment is that the delegation of Hamas, led by Haniye’s deputy, Khalil al Hayya, arrived in Cairo to resume the thread interrupted about ten days ago, “determined to guarantee an agreement” and had a first round of talks with Egyptian and Qatari negotiators. The head of the CIA, William Burns, also arrived in Cairo to closely monitor the progress of the negotiations. Then there are the rumors which cannot be confirmed at the moment, and the declarations of intent already announced which could jeopardize the agreements. Among the rumors, the most sensational, cited by the Saudi newspaper, is the possible release of Marwan Barghouti, leader of Fatah and symbol of the second intifada, sentenced to several life sentences which he is serving in Hadarim prison, near Natanya. A condition for his release – according to this source – would be his departure abroad or to Gaza, excluding his return to West Bank. Certainly, however, the release would not take place in the first phase of the agreement, the six weeks during which 3 civilian hostages per day should be released (women, children, children under 19, sick or injured adults) in exchange, for each them, of 20 Palestinian prisoners chosen with similar criteria and with a sentence to be served of less than 10 years. For the female soldiers taken hostage the “price” will be doubled: 20 prisoners with heavy sentences to serve and the same number with sentences of less than 10 years. During this first phase there would be a partial exit of the army from the Strip, a ban on air overflight for eight hours a day, and the return of displaced people to the north without limitations. The possible release of Barghouti, if it were confirmed, could take place in the second phase, which would involve the release of the soldiers in exchange for 40 prisoners each, half of them with heavy sentences. In this second phase the foundations for the reconstruction of the Strip should be laid.
So far indiscretions, and reading them already gives a picture of the complexity of the path to be faced. And then there are the declarations of intent: Netanyahu he made it known that “regardless of the agreements” the ground operation in Rafah will take place, a statement confirmed by other sources – anonymously but traced back to the government – according to which Israel will never accept the end of the war as part of the hostage agreement . “The IDF will enter Rafah and eliminate the remaining Hamas battalions regardless of the temporary pause.”
THE REACTIONS
Statements that did not please the opposition leader who joined the War Cabinet, Benny Gantz. «The response from Hamas has not yet been received, when it arrives the Cabinet will meet and decide: I suggest diplomatic sources and “decision makers” remain calm». While waiting for these answers, the Israeli negotiators have their bags ready to return to Cairo. Their departure would already be a positive sign. But from here to say that the moment of agreement has truly arrived, it will still take some time. Meanwhile, in addition to putting pressure on Israel, the US is asking Qatar to expel the leaders of Hamas, which it has hosted for years, if they cause the deal to fail.
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