The Palestinian Authority and its ally, Islamic Jihad, have approved the deal being negotiated in Doha for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, two Palestinian sources close to the talks told AFP.
«The resistance groups reached an agreement among themselves and informed the mediators that they approve the exchange agreement (of hostages for Palestinian prisoners) and the ceasefire“, said one of these sources who spoke by phone from Cairo.
A second Palestinian source close to the talks confirmed this statement.
According to Reuters, which also cited an unnamed Palestinian official, Hamas gave its verbal approval to the deal and is awaiting more information to give its final, written approval.
It is recalled that at noon on Wednesday the office of “Contrary to reports, the terrorist organization Hamas has not yet returned its response to the agreement“, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister reported.
The draft agreement
owned by the Associated Press
According to the draft agreement negotiated by Israel and Hamas and obtained by The Associated Press, Israel will pay a high price to secure — especially — the release of female soldiers held hostage.
The three-phase deal will begin with the gradual release of 33 hostages over six weeks, including women, children, elderly adults and wounded civilians, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.
Among the 33 will be five women serving in the Israeli army, each of whom will be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted security prisoners serving life sentences.
During this first, 42-day phase, Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza’s population centers, Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes in northern Gaza, and there will be a wave of humanitarian aid, with around 600 trucks entering every day.
