Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo: Airport sources

by IANS |



Cairo, April 29 (IANS/DPA) A Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo amid renewed negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal with Israel, airport sources told DPA.


The three-member Hamas delegation flew in from Doha to discuss the latest proposal for a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, the sources said.


Israeli news website ynet reported on Monday that the proposal envisages the release of 33 hostages in return for several hundred Palestinian prisoners. These are to include women, including female soldiers, elderly people, the injured and the "mentally impaired."


Citing a senior Israeli government representative, 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, according to the news outlet.


Under the proposal, Israel would also withdraw from a central road that divides the Gaza Strip into two parts - north and south. Residents of the northern section would be allowed to return to their homes.


A large majority of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip have fled to the south during the war.


However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have to choose between a hostage deal and the continued existence of his government.


Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, threatened on Sunday to end the government if the current hostage deal is implemented and a military operation in Rafah is stopped.


Netanyahu's political survival depends on his far-right coalition partners.



Latest News
Blood proteins that may predict cancer 7 years earlier identified Wed, May 15, 2024, 04:48 PM
Helicopter crash kills one, injures 12 in Afghanistan Wed, May 15, 2024, 04:47 PM
Make sure deposits of Oppn candidates are forfeited: Yogi Adityanath appeals to people Wed, May 15, 2024, 04:42 PM
Top EU diplomat urges Israel to end military operation in Rafah Wed, May 15, 2024, 04:30 PM
Omar Abdullah blames rival parties for woes of people Wed, May 15, 2024, 04:28 PM
LG launches next-gen AI TVs in different sizes in India Wed, May 15, 2024, 04:03 PM
Anjum, Aishwary top qualifications of third 50m rifle 3P Olympic Selection Trial Wed, May 15, 2024, 04:02 PM
Constituency Watch: ED 'eye' on key Sena Vs Sena battle for supremacy in Mumbai North West LS seat Wed, May 15, 2024, 03:45 PM
Manish Sisodia's judicial custody extended till May 30 in excise policy case Wed, May 15, 2024, 03:32 PM
Ukraine withdraws troops from some Kharkiv positions Wed, May 15, 2024, 03:15 PM
Woman stabbed to death at busy Howrah railway station Wed, May 15, 2024, 03:07 PM
Shot down missiles over Crimea: Russia Wed, May 15, 2024, 03:06 PM
AWS plans to invest $8.4 bn into its European Sovereign Cloud in Germany Wed, May 15, 2024, 02:47 PM
'BJP can't cross 200 mark without irregularities in EVM,' Cong leader stirs row Wed, May 15, 2024, 02:42 PM
J&K: Leopard killed after it injured 6 in Budgam Wed, May 15, 2024, 02:40 PM