The privately owned newspaper Israel Hayom quoted unnamed informed sources as saying that cabinet ministers were briefed at the meeting that "there has been no progress so far in negotiations with Hamas regarding a prisoner exchange deal." The newspaper added that the meeting concluded without any decisions being made regarding the war on Gaza.
According to the same source, the ministers participating in the meeting expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a partial deal to release the prisoners, despite the lack of indications of a tangible breakthrough in the negotiations.
The newspaper added that a new cabinet meeting will be held on Monday at 5:00 PM Tel Aviv time to discuss the same issue.
Earlier on Sunday, informed sources said the Israeli occupation army had asked the government to determine the next steps in the ongoing war on Gaza, but that it was recommending a prisoner exchange deal with the Palestinian resistance.
Tel Aviv estimates that there are 50 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, more than 10,400 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.
Hamas has repeatedly affirmed its willingness to release Israeli prisoners "in one batch" in exchange for an end to the war of extermination, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
But Netanyahu insists on partial deals and evades the deal by proposing new conditions, including the disarmament of the Palestinian resistance. He is currently insisting on reoccupying Gaza to achieve his personal political interests, particularly his continued rule, according to the Israeli opposition.
With full American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving approximately 190,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, more than 11,000 missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced.
