The Hebrew-language i24NEWS channel quoted unnamed informed sources on Thursday as saying that "the American envoy is working behind the scenes to resume talks on a prisoner exchange deal," adding that this is taking place in the form of talks with Israel and mediators "with the aim of trying to find an effective mechanism for the talks and also solutions to bridge the gaps between the two parties."
An informed source told the Hebrew channel: "Following Hamas's announcement, in which it detailed its demands for a comprehensive deal, we have reached a situation in which Israel and Hamas have made clear their demands for a deal under which all detainees would be released."
On Wednesday, Hamas reiterated its readiness to conclude a comprehensive deal to release all Israeli prisoners in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, end the war on Gaza, and withdraw from the Strip. However, Netanyahu also rejected this in a statement from his office.
For its part, the private Israeli Channel 12 reported that "Wittkov recently discussed with Qatari officials in Paris efforts to reach a prisoner exchange deal to end the war."
The Jerusalem Post also quoted an informed source as saying, "The mediators are trying to ensure that the talks proceed at a faster pace than before if Witkov succeeds in bringing the parties back to the negotiating table."
On August 18, Hamas agreed to a proposal by mediators for a partial ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza. However, Israel did not respond to the mediators, despite the agreement of the proposal's terms with an earlier proposal put forward by Witkoff, which Tel Aviv had accepted.
Instead, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing to occupy Gaza City under the pretext of releasing prisoners and defeating Hamas, as he puts it. This is a feasible scenario, as opposition figures and former officials have expressed considerable skepticism about the feasibility of such an operation, and the Israeli military has asserted that the operation poses a threat to the lives of Israeli captives.
Tel Aviv estimates that there are 48 Israeli detainees in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, some 11,100 Palestinian prisoners are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect. Many of these prisoners have been killed, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.
"Preparing to evacuate Gaza City "
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In this context, the private Hebrew Channel 14 reported on Thursday that the occupation army is preparing to issue warnings to Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City "within the coming days," as part of Tel Aviv's plan to occupy the entire city.
The Hebrew channel said that Operation "Gideon Armor 2" will include "a large-scale airstrike campaign next week, followed by a ground operation aimed at gaining full operational control of Gaza City and evacuating its residents."
On Wednesday, the Israeli occupation army launched an attack called "Gideon 2" to completely occupy Gaza City (north), sparking criticism and protests in Israel, fearing for the lives of Israeli detainees and soldiers.
Channel 14 reported that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Eyal Zamir, visited the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and reviewed the situation on the ground, confirming the intention to expand operations.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli reserve Major General Yitzhak Brick described the plan to occupy Gaza City as "far-fetched," warning that it would lead to "catastrophic results" and would not defeat Hamas.
Brick, a former armored brigade commander and former commander of military colleges, said the plan was "imposed on the military by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after strong opposition from Chief of Staff Zamir."
In an article in the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, he pointed out that "Zamir told the cabinet that it was a death trap for soldiers and the kidnapped," referring to the Israeli detainees in Gaza.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 64,231 martyrs and 161,583 wounded, most of them children and women, thousands missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that has killed 370 Palestinians, including 131 children
