Hamas reportedly halted prisoner exchange negotiations due to Israel's actions towards the Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, according to a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations.
According to reports from the besieged Gaza Strip, the Israeli army launched an attack on the Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, resulting in casualties and injuries and the destruction of the maternity hospital and cardiac department. Reports indicate that immature children are at risk of death due to lack of supplies in the hospital, and other patients are suffering from tragic conditions as fuel and medicines run out.
“Records progress in prisoner exchange deal negotiations.”
Negotiations between Hamas and Israel regarding a prisoner exchange deal were halted, according to Reuters, after Western media reports indicated progress in negotiations between the two sides.
According to the American news site Politico, Israeli officials believe that there is an opportunity to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, and despite the continuing fighting between the two sides, they show cautious optimism about the current situation.
Although these officials did not reveal their names due to the sensitivity of this issue, they stressed that the completion of such a deal would be temporary and limited, if it is agreed upon.
However, officials cautioned that there are several outstanding issues that must be addressed to complete the deal.
According to the website, the deal will likely include a few dozen Israeli children and elderly people, including Americans with dual citizenship.
Officials indicated that declaring an official truce in northern Gaza helps advance exchange negotiations through Qatari and Egyptian mediation.
- *American efforts to exchange prisoners and detainees between Israel and Hamas**
The American news website Axios revealed American efforts to exchange prisoners and detainees between Israel and Hamas. The proposed deal includes the release of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons, in addition to the entry of fuel into Gaza. Discussions include a deal to release about 80 women and children detained by Hamas during an attack last October 7.
Biden's senior advisor for Middle East affairs, Brett McGurk, is scheduled to visit Israel and Qatar to discuss efforts to free detainees held by the Hamas movement.
