By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A delegation of Gaza-based militant group, Hamas has arrived at Cairo Airport in Egypt, amidst renewed negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal with Israel, sources told newsmen on Monday.
The three-member Hamas delegation flew in from Doha to discuss the latest proposal for a ceasefire.
A possible exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners being detained in Israeli prisons will also be discussed at the meeting.
The proposal envisages the release of 33 hostages in return for several hundred Palestinian prisoners, Israeli news website reports.
They comprise of women, female soldiers, elderly people, the injured, and the “mentally impaired”.
Citing a senior Israeli government representative, the news website ynet reported that the duration of the ceasefire would depend on the number of hostages released.
Hamas is demanding the release of 50 prisoners for every soldier and 30 prisoners for every civilian.
Under the proposal, Israel would also withdraw from a central road that divides the Gaza Strip into two parts.
Hamas, also said Israel would allow residents of the northern section to return to their homes.
Heritage Times reports that a majority of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip had fled to the south since Oct 7 when the war broke out.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has defied all appeals to leave Gaza with his Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as a result of the humanitarian crisis their presence is causing the civilian population.
On Sunday, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party threatened to end the government if the current hostage deal was implemented and a military operation in Rafah stopped.
Netanyahu may have to choose between a hostage deal and the continued existence of his government.
Netanyahu’s political survival depended on his far-right coalition partners.
Western allies, including the US and France have continued call for a ceasefire as civil casualties recorded in Gaza escalates.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines