Hostage exchange talks began

Hostage exchange talks have begun between Israel and Hamas via a third country.

The political wing of Hamas is participating directly in this meeting, which is the first of its kind between Israel and Hamas. The third country that brings the two sides together is the country that considers Hamas a terrorist organization. However, it is a force of diplomatic persuasion capable of bringing these two sides to the negotiating table.

The agenda of the meeting is Israeli hostages versus Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The problem arises because the number of hostages could not be agreed upon in two meetings held within 24 hours. The numbers are very serious.

Hamas wants to release Palestinian prisoners, whose number has reached 11,000 with the latest arrests in Israeli prisons. On the other hand, Israel says that there are 5,000 Palestinians in its prisons, including those sentenced, and that the rest cannot be interrogated after the Gaza war.

Israel wants to receive 226 hostages in this exchange. However, Hamas claims that some hostages died during the Israeli bombing and their bodies were buried under the rubble. Israel demands all its hostages, living and dead. But the main problem in these negotiations is that Hamas does not know the exact number of hostages it has. Hamas claims that it can hand over 194 hostages, alive and dead.

The two parties intend to include Major General Abbas Ibrahim, the former Director General of Lebanese General Security, an experienced figure who previously participated in the prisoner exchange process during the conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah, to the technical process. Technical talks on the hostage exchange are expected to continue until November 15.

In the absence of an agreement on the number of prisoners from the third mediating country, a formula is being developed that brings the two warring parties to the negotiating table: a gradual exchange…

This proposal first envisages the extradition of 170 children in Israeli prisons. It is then scheduled to continue the process of exchanging children hostages held by Hamas and then exchanging female hostages. If crisis management can be completed successfully, high-level names could be exchanged in the final stage.

Another disagreement hindering the exchange process is over where these hostages will be exchanged. The parties were unable to find common ground on this issue.

Secret talks on the hostage exchange continue, but no results have been reached yet. While there is a perception that the Israeli side is very hesitant in this process, representatives of the Hamas side are said to be slow in their ability to make decisions and their operations are very behind.

*News image provided by the Associated Press.