Israel has agreed to a US offer to release some 700 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 40 Hamas hostages. This was reported by sources from the US television channel CNN and several Israeli media outlets, including The Times of Israel and Walla. The countries are awaiting a response from the Palestinian movement.
The proposal was made at the initiative of CIA Director William Burns. Among others, Israel is ready to release 100 Palestinians serving life sentences for murdering Israelis.
Other issues, including the delivery of humanitarian aid and the presence of Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip, have not yet been resolved. Israel is said to be willing to discuss US proposals for the return of civilians to the northern Gaza Strip. In the first stage, more than 2,000 Palestinians will be able to return to the northern enclave once the release of Israeli hostages begins.
Israel is preparing for a major operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than 1.3 million Palestinians who fled the northern enclave are sheltering. The US opposes the operation without evacuating civilians.
The war between Israel and Hamas began when the Palestinian movement attacked Israeli territory on October 7, 2023. 1.2 thousand Israelis were killed, 5.4 thousand wounded, and over 200 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage. Israel is conducting a retaliatory military operation, which has resulted in the deaths of some 32 000 Palestinians and the wounding of some 74 000 people. /BGNES
