Hamas reportedly seeks Türkiye, Russia as guarantors for Gaza cease-fire talks, Israel objects

It has been reported that the Palestinian delegation negotiating a cease-fire and mutual prisoner exchange in Gaza in Doha demanded the guarantorship of Türkiye and Russia, along with mediators Qatar and Egypt, while Tel Aviv objected to this.

According to a report by Israel's Channel 13, there are several unresolved issues between Hamas and Israel in the cease-fire and mutual prisoner exchange agreement negotiated in Doha under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.

Hamas requested the guarantorship of "Türkiye and Russia, along with Qatar and Egypt serving as mediators" for the agreement, while Tel Aviv objected.

Tel Aviv was "willing to release some, but not all of the 48 Palestinian prisoners released in the 2001 prisoner exchange agreement for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and later re-arrested," which Hamas demanded.

Threat of resignation from far-right ministers

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in the Israeli government threatened to resign if the government released Palestinian prisoners convicted of security offenses in Israeli prisons during a cabinet meeting held on Sunday night for the delegation to go to Doha.

It was also mentioned that Mossad Director David Barnea, who leads the Israeli negotiating team, as well as Shin Bet (Shabak) Director Ronen Bar and Israeli army commander Nitzan Alon, responsible for missing persons and prisoners, gave a favorable opinion of an agreement.

One of the ministers who attended the cabinet meeting stated: "Except for Ben-Gvir and maybe Smotrich, there would be no opposition among the ministers in the government to the prisoner exchange agreement."

The minister pointed out that "it is not yet clear what decision Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make."

Israeli delegation traveled to Doha

The Israeli negotiating team, led by Mossad Director Barnea, traveled to Doha on March 18 to convey Tel Aviv's response to Hamas' cease-fire and mutual prisoner exchange proposal and to engage in indirect negotiations.

The security cabinet authorized the Israeli delegation visiting Qatar to conduct the negotiations.

Since Oct. 7, Israel has conducted attacks on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of approximately 32,000 Palestinians, including over 13,000 children and 9,000 women.

Former Hamas proposal rejected

Hamas had announced that it presented a new proposal for a cease-fire and mutual prisoner exchange in Gaza following meetings with Egypt and Qatar in Cairo on March 14.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Hamas' demands in the proposal as "unreasonable" and announced that the army approved plans to attack Rafah in southern Gaza.

Among the significant disagreements between Hamas and Israel is reportedly Israel's "demand to continue temporary cease-fires and war" despite Hamas' "request for a permanent cease-fire,"

It is stated that Hamas wants forcibly displaced Palestinians to return to the heavily devastated northern Gaza, where Israel continues its land occupation, while Israel opposes this.

Source: Newsroom