Hamas is willing to accept the release of three thousand Palestinian prisoners in Israel in exchange for Israeli hostages. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing Egyptian sources. However, according to the same sources, Hamas is still demanding the release of prisoners serving long prison sentences in Israel and the start of talks on a permanent ceasefire at the start of a six-week truce. In this case, if negotiations continue, the release of all hostages will proceed.
CIA Director Bill Burns will travel to Paris tomorrow to discuss a hostage deal with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials. Two sources told Axios that Burns will attend the talks, with the United States seeking an agreement before Ramadan, which begins in less than three weeks. The critical point – writes Axios – is the number of Palestinian prisoners released and the way the list is determined. The same source confirmed that a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo yesterday to talk to Egyptian intelligence officials about the possible hostage deal.
“IDF prepares to continue intensive ground operations”
“We will expand the powers of our hostage negotiators. At the same time, the military is preparing to continue intensive ground operations.” This was said by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in his meeting with White House envoy Brett McGurk.
“48 dead in Israeli raids”
Israeli strikes killed at least 48 people in the southern and central Gaza Strip tonight, half of them women and children. This was stated by health officials in the strip, who were quoted by the AP on its website. Seven Israeli strikes hit Rafah this morning, one of which destroyed a mosque and devastated much of the surrounding block, AP writes. Another attack hit a house in Rafah where the al-Shaer family was staying, killing at least four people, including a mother and her son. Nighttime attacks in central Gaza killed 44 people, including 14 children and 8 women, according to local hospital officials.
According to local media, a rocket fired from the Red Sea towards Eilat in southern Israel was intercepted by Israeli air defenses after warning sirens sounded in the city.
“Our fighters – reported the military spokesman – using the Iron Dome system, successfully intercepted a target that came from the Red Sea in our direction.” This target – the spokesman continued – did not enter Israeli airspace and did not pose a threat for the population.” This was the second attack of this kind in the past month, it was said on military radio.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has announced a new Palestinian death toll: 29,410 since the start of the Israeli offensive.
Israeli raid on a UNRWA building in Jabalia
Al Jazeera reports casualties after an Israeli bomb attack on a UNRWA building housing displaced people in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. According to the broadcaster, an Israeli raid targeted a Palestinian vehicle east of the camp. Footage of the accident reviewed by Al Jazeera shows the death of at least one person and the injuries of many others. “An Israeli reconnaissance plane bombed the car and we found dead and wounded people on the road,” said a witness.
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