December 18, Doha (ANI): Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region, CNN reported that Hamas has voiced optimism about the chances of reaching an agreement with israel about ceasefire and hostage negotiations.
Hamas declared in a formal statement on tuesday that an agreement was "possible." According to a Hamas source quoted in the newspaper, the discussions are "positive and optimistic."
In recent days, senior officials from the US, israel, qatar, and egypt have praised the negotiations' progress. The positive words and recent diplomatic action indicate strong momentum towards striking a deal, CNN reports, even if officials warn that a deal is neither sealed nor assured.Bill Burns, the director of the CIA, is scheduled to visit qatar this week to take part in additional negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza. As early as Wednesday, burns are anticipated in Doha. According to an Israeli official quoted in the paper, an agreement could still be weeks away.
However, Hamas has also warned that there are still obstacles to overcome and implied that israel was "imposing new conditions" on the talks.
"The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas affirms that in light of the serious and positive discussions taking place in Doha today, under the auspices of our Qatari and Egyptian brothers, reaching an agreement for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange is possible if the occupation stops imposing new conditions," it stated in a statement.Teams from israel and Hamas are in the capital of qatar for indirect talks. Members of the Shin Bet and Mossad security services are part of the Israeli delegation. Since negotiations broke down at the end of August, this is the most intense time.
The agreement's terms are essentially the same as those of the plan that US President Joe Biden proposed earlier this year.
The release of hostages in Gaza was part of the three-phase Biden proposal in late May, which also called for a "full and complete ceasefire." The US president had stated that the "release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners" and the "withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza" would be part of the six-week-long first phase.
When phase one of a deal begins, "What has changed is that Israeli forces are likely to stay in Gaza temporarily," according to a diplomatic source. This includes the Philadelphi corridor, a strip of land on the Gaza-Egypt border, and the Netzarim corridor, an area that cuts through the strip, as CNN reported. (ANI)
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