According to Israel’s Channel 12 television, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Gallant held a meeting with the families of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza last night. Gallant made important statements at the meeting regarding the prisoner swap agreement with Palestinian groups in Gaza.
Gallant gave a hopeful message by saying, “We are closer than ever to a prisoner swap agreement.” Gallant also stated that until a month ago, he did not believe that such an agreement would be reached anytime soon, but in his contacts in the US, he focused on the need to put pressure on Hamas.
The Israeli Prime Ministry Press Office announced yesterday on behalf of Mossad that Hamas had sent a response to the prisoner swap deal offer. However, it was stated that Gallant’s press office had not made any statement on the subject.
Prisoner Exchange Agreement Process
The Hamas Movement announced that they approved the ceasefire proposal they submitted to Qatari and Egyptian authorities on May 6, but Israel rejected the proposal on the grounds that it did not meet the conditions. US President Joe Biden announced on May 31 that he had presented a new ceasefire proposal to Israel.
Netanyahu stated that this proposal would continue the attacks in Gaza until the goals are achieved. While the indirect negotiation process between Israel and Hamas continues, it is expected that the parties will agree on a ceasefire.
| Israel | Hamas |
|---|---|
| Maintains contacts with the US | Prioritizes the security of the Palestinian people |
| Accelerating efforts for prisoner swap deals | He is mediating a ceasefire |
