Hamas has declared that it will not be involved in prisoner exchange negotiations until Israel’s military operation in Gaza is completed, the group said in a statement on Thursday (21). The statement emphasized a Palestinian national decision to avoid discussions about prisoners or exchange agreements during the ongoing aggression.
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This comes simultaneously with the visit of the head of Hamas’s political office, Ismail Haniyeh, to Cairo, where he will discuss with Egyptian officials.
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Haniyeh’s visit follows Israel’s proposal for a week-long pause in fighting in exchange for the release of 40 hostages, similar to an agreement last month that resulted in a temporary truce. Despite ongoing negotiations, an Israeli official told CNN on Wednesday (20) that the parties are not yet close to a final agreement.
Israel is currently requesting the release of all remaining hostages as part of any agreement, and the official mentioned that a temporary ceasefire, as part of the proposed deal, could last a week or two.