jordan pulse -
The acting head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the West Bank, Zaher Jabarin, confirmed that the movement will not hand over its Israeli prisoners “except with a real deal.”
Jabareen said in television statements on Wednesday evening that the Hamas movement had submitted its response to the mediators, adding that “if the occupation wants to know the fate of its prisoners and take those who remain alive, it must be serious in the negotiations and stay away from the tricks of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political calculations that disrupt the negotiations.”
In a related context, a leader in the Hamas movement said that the continued American retreat and bias towards the Israeli position led to a crisis in the exchange deal negotiations.
The source added that Hamas presented a vision for the deal based on a paper presented by the mediators, including the United States, but Washington retracted its paper after it was rejected by Tel Aviv and then fully adopted the Israeli position.
The Hamas leadership source confirmed that American behavior will not bring about a deal, but rather will increase the state of escalation and more bloodshed.
The Israeli position
: Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Foreign Minister Israel Katz asked German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and British Foreign Minister David Cameron, during their meetings yesterday, Wednesday, in Jerusalem, to put more pressure on Hamas to complete the prisoner exchange deal.
The Commission said that the War Council will be held today, Thursday, to discuss the detainees’ file and the latest developments regarding the prisoner exchange deal.
Last Saturday, the Hamas movement announced that it had submitted to the mediators in Egypt and Qatar its response regarding the proposed ceasefire with Israel and the exchange of prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The movement did not reveal the content of its response, but it renewed its adherence to its demands and the national demands of its people “for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation army from the entire Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced to their areas, intensification of the entry of relief and aid, and the start of reconstruction.”
It confirmed its readiness to "conclude a serious and real prisoner exchange deal between the two parties."
A few days ago, sources revealed details of Hamas’ response, and said that the movement adhered to the proposed framework for a ceasefire in 3 stages, each stage lasting 42 days.
Hamas also stipulated the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the dividing line in all areas in the first phase, and demanded the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip and the guarantee of freedom of movement in all its areas.
In its response to the mediators, Hamas stipulated that a permanent ceasefire be announced in the second phase before the prisoner exchange began, and also demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip in the second phase.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office considered that Hamas responded "negatively" to the broad outlines presented to it by the mediators.
Al Jazeera Net