Progress in Hostage Negotiations

There seems to be more hope of success in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a humanitarian pause in the fighting and the release of hostages. Reports indicate that the Israelis have agreed to release between 700 and 800 Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for 40 hostages including women, children, elderly and some who are sick.

Israel is also said to have moved on Hamas’ demand for the return of Gazans to their homes in the north of the Gaza Strip. They are prepared to consider a gradual return of more than 2,000 people each day once Hamas start to release hostages.

A senior Israeli official puts the current chances of success at around 50 percent. The latest proposals meet more of the Hamas demands than the earlier proposals developed in negotiations in Paris. Those would have seen around 400 Hamas prisoners released, including fewer serving life-sentences.

A major question is whether Hamas will continue to hold out for a complete cessation of the fighting. One of their officials complained over the weekend that Israel “refuses to agree on a comprehensive ceasefire and refuses the complete withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.”