Israel agreed to US proposal for prisoner and hostage exchange - CNN
Photo: Israel agrees to US offers to exchange prisoners and hostages - CNN (GettyImages)
Israel has agreed to the US proposal for a prisoner exchange and is awaiting a response from Hamas, reports CNN.
Israel has agreed to the US proposal for a prisoner and hostage exchange, which would allow for the release of about 700 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 Israeli citizens serving life sentences for murder, in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli hostages, CNN Kan News reported on Sunday, citing a senior Israeli official.
According to CNN analyst Barak Ravid, Israel agreed to the proposal from CIA Director Bill Burns, who was in Doha, where Hamas and Israel are negotiating through intermediaries. Currently, the delegation is awaiting a response from Hamas.
A diplomatic source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNN the accuracy of Ravid's information but said that unresolved issues remain, including aid delivery and the "Israeli military repositioning" to Gaza.
If the agreement goes through, it will consist of several stages. In the first stage, Hamas proposed to release women hostages, including Israeli soldiers, elderly, sick, and wounded individuals. It is estimated that this would involve approximately 40 out of the roughly 100 hostages still alive.
War in Israel
Israel was attacked by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, from the territory of the Gaza Strip. According to official data, in the first days of the attacks, militants killed 1200 civilians and soldiers and kidnapped about 250 people.
At the end of October, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip, which continues to this day. The country's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the purpose of the operation is to completely destroy Hamas and free the hostages.
In mid-March, Hamas militants agreed to a modified proposal from the United States regarding a ceasefire.
The administration of US President Joe Biden called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, called on Israel and Hamas militants to immediately cease hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
