Carlos Garcia Rollins – Reuters
Demonstrators call for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas during a protest in Tel Aviv on March 17, 2024.
CNN
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Israel has agreed to a US proposal for a prisoner and hostage exchange that would release about 700 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 serving life sentences for killing Israeli citizens, in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli hostages, CNN affiliate Kan News reported Sunday, citing Israeli television network. A senior Israeli official.
Earlier over the weekend, CNN analyst Barak Ravid, citing an unnamed Israeli official, said: chirp Israel agreed to an American “bridging proposal” regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released for each hostage held by Hamas.
Israel agreed to the proposal presented by CIA Director Bill Burns, according to Rapid. Burns was in Doha, Qatar, where Hamas and Israel are holding talks through mediators.
Rapid said that the delegations are now waiting for Hamas' response.
A diplomatic source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNN the accuracy of Ravid's information, but said there were still outstanding issues, including the entry of aid and “Israeli military repositioning” in Gaza.
CNN reached out to Israeli and Hamas officials about the status of the talks.
The latest proposal presented by Hamas this month calls for the release of between 700 and 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel at that time Describe the demands As “ridiculous” and “ridiculous”.
Kan News reported that, according to the official, Israel is ready to make “major concessions in order to return the kidnapped people to their homeland.”
It is expected that the agreement, if it occurs, will have multiple stages. In the first phase, Hamas proposed releasing women hostages – including Israeli soldiers – the elderly, the sick and the wounded. This number is believed to be about 40 out of about 100 hostages still alive.
Mossad Director David Barnea, along with a high-level Israeli security delegation, visited Doha twice this week for talks.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN's Abel Alvarado contributed to this report.
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