Hamas to release twenty Israeli hostages instead of 33

Tel Aviv, May 4 Hamas has agreed to release 20 Israeli hostages instead of the 33 Israel had proposed.

A delegation of Hamas leaders led by Khalil al-Hayva has reached the Egyptian capital Cairo for a new round of indirect mediation talks on a ceasefire in the war with Israel and the release of Israeli hostages.

Other Hamas leaders in the three-member delegation include Zaher Jabarin and Ghazi Hamad.

According to Israeli Defense Ministry sources, Hamas has informed mediators from Qatar and Egypt that it could release 20 Israeli hostages, including women, the elderly and the sick.

Israel had previously proposed the release of 33 of its hostages held in Hamas custody in exchange for some 600 Palestinian prisoners languishing in Israeli prisons.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns has reached Cairo and will oversee the indirect mediation talks.

The Israeli delegation is already in Cairo led by Mossad chief David Barnea.

Hamas has also demanded a 40-day ceasefire and later a permanent withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, according to sources.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already informed the mediators that the Israeli army would invade the Rafah region of the Gaza Strip next Friday if the mediation talks do not make progress.

Sources in the Israeli Prime Minister’s office told IANS that Netanyahu had told the US that Israel had no choice but to launch a military operation in Rafah to free its hostages and defeat Hamas.

The Israeli Army’s (IDF) elite Nahal Brigade is already stationed in Gaza’s Rafah and is awaiting political approval for a ground invasion.

–IANS

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