Ahead of negotiations in Egypt, the terror organization intends to demand an immediate and complete cessation of fighting, Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza City, and the release of high-profile terror convicts.
As talks are set to commence in Egypt tomorrow (Monday) between Israel, Hamas, and international mediators, Arabic media reports are detailing the terror organization’s expected high-stakes demands. A Hamas source told Al Arabiya that they have begun the process of collecting the bodies of dead Israeli hostages and requested a halt to bombings to complete the mission. According to the source, the release of living hostages would occur in a single phase, while the transfer of the bodies "will require some time."
The source claimed that the terror group has seen "American flexibility regarding the issue of handing over the dead hostages and has received American guarantees via Qatar regarding a permanent Israeli withdrawal." Furthermore, the source asserted that Hamas provided mediators with a list of both living and dead hostages to present to Israel, which the group claims knows the exact number being held.
Hamas also reportedly received American guarantees that their leaders would not be targeted. The source stressed that the negotiation process would be "fast and intense," adding, "it is in our interest to carry it out quickly." According to the Saudi channel Asharq, Hamas’s primary demands will include a complete ceasefire for the entire duration of the negotiations, a withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza City, and a return of Israeli forces to the positions they held during the previous hostage deal.
The organization will also reportedly demand a suspension of air force sorties and drone flights for 10 hours daily, extending to 12 hours on days when hostages are released. These steps are expected to be demanded throughout the entire negotiation period, which may last a week or more. (Read More)
