Israel has agreed to release more than 700 Palestinian prisoners from jail as part of a potential agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages taken by Hamas militants, reports The Jerusalem Post.
According to the press, among them are Palestinians serving sentences for terrorism and murder of Israeli citizens.
According to the media, citing Israeli officials, there are 700-800 Palestinian prisoners who could be released if the parties agree.
Among the convicted terrorists whom Israel has agreed to release are hundreds of those serving life sentences for killing Israelis during terrorist attacks, Axios reporter, CNN analyst and Walla Washington correspondent Barak Ravid said.
It is also indicated that Hamas militants, for their part, will release 40 hostages.
Israel's war with Hamas and the question of a truce
The Hamas group launched a massive attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. After that, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip, which continues to this day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the purpose of the operation is to completely destroy Hamas and release hostages.
In early February, he also announced the IDF's readiness to launch a ground invasion of the city of Rafah, located in the south of the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt.
On March 12, a Hamas spokesperson said that the group was accepting a modified version of the US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, the next day, the Israeli Defense Forces attacked a food distribution center in eastern Rafah.
On March 18, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the departure of an Israeli negotiating delegation to Doha (Qatar) to negotiate a temporary truce in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages.
On Friday, March 22, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military cabinet.
It has recently become known that Mossad Director David Barnea flew to Qatar to discuss with Western partners a potential truce and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.