Media reports suggest that Israel has proposed a new prisoner exchange deal to Qatar through U.S. mediation. The proposed deal involves Israel withdrawing its troops from densely populated areas of Gaza and permitting increased aid to enter the enclave in the first phase. In the second phase, Hamas would release female Israeli captives, including female soldiers and the bodies of deceased Israelis, as Israel retreats further into areas outlined through Qatari and U.S. mediation.
However, reports indicate that Hamas has rejected the proposal, as it does not call for a full ceasefire during the hostage exchange. Currently, 129 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, with 105 being released during a temporary one-week truce between Hamas and Israel from November 24 to December 1. Israeli authorities believe that at least 20 hostages among the remaining 129 have died.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in thousands of Palestinians being held in Israeli jails without trials or access to legal counsel. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, Israeli forces have arrested more than 4,655 individuals in the occupied West Bank since October 7.
The hostilities between Hamas and Israel escalated when Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza on October 27, prompted by a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7. Since the onset of hostilities, at least 21,110 Palestinians, predominantly children and women, have been killed, and 53,688 Palestinians have sustained injuries.
(With Agency Inputs)
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