On the evening of the 23rd of February, a crucial negotiation session commenced in the city of Paris, France. This important gathering featured representatives from several countries, including Israel, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. The Israeli delegation was comprised of some significant figures. Among them were the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, the leader of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, the director of the headquarters for the search for the kidnapped, Nitzan Alon, and the political advisor to the Prime Minister, Ofir Falk.
According to Channel 13’s report, just before this distinguished delegation set out for Paris, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in conjunction with the War Cabinet, decided to expand the negotiating powers of its members. However, the report also highlighted that, while broader than before, these powers are not as extensive as the security forces had recommended. Nonetheless, members of the delegation now have the ability to make autonomous decisions on a wider array of issues than they had in previous negotiations conducted in Paris. Despite this, they are not authorized to make concessions regarding issues tied to the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
The Kan-11 TV channel revealed several issues that persist in causing discord between the involved parties. Israel, for instance, is objecting to Hamas’ demand for the repatriation of civilians to the northern zones of the strip and the removal of the Israeli military from these areas. Another significant hurdle in the negotiations has been the clause concerning the release of Palestinian prisoners from jails. The disagreement is not only over their number but also over who could be set free as part of the prisoner exchange.
Meanwhile, the Saudi publication Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported that Hamas has demonstrated flexibility on three main points: the duration of the ceasefire, the number of Palestinian prisoners who will be released in the initial phase of the agreement, and the boundaries of the IDF retreat.
The negotiations in Paris also include several key figures such as CIA Director William Burns, Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamal, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
As these negotiations got underway in Paris, UN Secretary-General António Guterres communicated with Israelis who were protesting outside his residence in New York. He conveyed that there was progress being made in the negotiations. He further expressed optimism by stating, “there is a glimmer of hope that an agreement will soon be reached.”
