17/7/2025–|Last update: 08:55 (Mecca time)
The American East Envoy Steve Witkeov confirmed yesterday that the negotiations to reach a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are proceeding well, while talks on the agreement, including the contentious point related to the maps of the Israeli army’s withdrawal, continue.
This came after the announcement of the American President Donald Trump He has a “good news about Gaza”, thanks to Lykov, without adding more details.
Earlier, meetings were held between the Israeli delegation and both the Qatari and Egyptian delegations, during which the Israeli side presented new maps “that reflect additional elasticity from its side,” according to the Jerusalem Post.
The newspaper website quoted a source familiar with the negotiations as saying that “the focus now is no longer on the Morag Corridor, but on the Israeli presence in a city RafahThere is the discussion currently. “
The source added that the brokers are optimistic, and they believe that the new maps are great progress in the opportunities to reach a close agreement.
Prepare to give up
The 12 Israeli channel reported that Israel had informed the brokers yesterday to give up its demand to stay in Morag axisAnd she expressed a willingness to use flexibility regarding the spread of the “Ocean axis”, along the borders of the Gaza Strip.
The channel added, quoting sources, that Israel “expressed its willingness to return to the previous ceasefire lines with minor adjustments.”
The sources added that “Israel recently delivered new maps that show its flexibility,” noting that the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Ready to deal with more flexibility regarding the deployment of forces, in order to reach a deal.
However, an Israeli source indicated that there are still gaps in the issue of the keys to the release of Palestinian prisoners, that is, the percentage of Israeli detainees to the Palestinian prisoners who will be released in each batch, as well as in the issue of humanitarian aid.
On the other hand, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said that the movement dealt with flexibility and spirit of responsibility “to stop the aggression against our people.”
He stressed the refusal to separate any geographical region from the Gaza Strip. He said, “We will not accept the existence of the occupation in it.”
10 days ago, an indirect negotiation round started in Doha between the delegations of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel by Qatari and Egyptian mediation with the United States aimed at reaching an agreement ending the war.