Qatar, Egypt, and the United States recently reached out to Israel with a proposal to send representatives to Sharm El-Sheikh for discussions focused on a potential prisoner swap, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, who spoke to i24NEWS.
The source explained that logistical complications involving flights prevented the Israeli team from traveling to the original venue, prompting the suggestion to relocate the talks to Sharm El-Sheikh. Despite this, a high-ranking Israeli official pushed back on the claim, asserting, “There was no such request, and when the conditions for talks are met, they will be held in an agreed-upon location.”
According to individuals familiar with the mediation efforts, negotiations over a hostage agreement have stalled ever since Israel launched airstrikes against Iran. “Both sides are waiting to see what will happen,” two sources explained, noting that the evolving geopolitical landscape is also having an effect on Hamas.
These sources also indicated that the strong coordination between the United States and Israel has created uncertainty for Hamas regarding the reliability of American assurances tied to the agreement. “Hamas is asking itself what will happen with the U.S. guarantees for this deal,” the sources said.
In the last several weeks, three significant obstacles have emerged in the negotiation process. One of those hurdles—the timeline involving the release of eight captives on the first day and another two on day 55—appears to have been successfully addressed.
Nonetheless, two major points of contention remain unresolved: the extent to which Israeli forces will pull back as part of the agreement, and what course of action will be taken on day 61. At issue are demands to cease military operations and continue diplomatic talks for the remaining hostages.
{Matzav.com Israel}