Government preparing citizens for ‘concessions’ with Hamas: Israeli media

JERUSALEM (AA) – Government is preparing the public for possible “tough decisions”, including releasing “dangerous” Palestinian prisoners as part of a new prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) has reported.

Tel Aviv is discussing with mediators the release of dozens of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, prioritizing women and the elderly who are injured or suffer from chronic illnesses.

The Israeli public must be prepared to make “concessions” regarding the release of dangerous prisoners, it said, citing an Israeli source.

”Dangerous prisoners” refers to Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons who have heavy sentences.

Mossad Chief David Barnea, CIA Director William Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met on Monday in the Polish capital of Warsaw to initiate a new prisoner swap deal, according to the broadcaster.

– Difficult agreement –

Formulating a new agreement will be much more difficult than the previous one, said KAN, citing an unnamed Israeli official.

On the other hand, Israel’s Channel 12 quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: “Israel will be prepared to take a long stride to bring back its hostages.”

If the agreement is implemented, it will require high costs, the official added, asserting that the ball is now in the court of the mediators.

In return, Israel will consider showing flexibility during an expected suspension of attacks, said the channel.

Al Thani conveyed, during the meeting in Warsaw, Hamas’s position that Israel must cease attacks before any negotiations on prisoner exchange can take place.

Barnea responded that if Hamas wants the war to end, it must disarm and surrender its leaders in the Gaza Strip, it added.

During a week-long suspension of attacks in Gaza last month, Hamas released 81 Israelis, 23 Thai nationals and a Philippines national, in exchange for 240 Palestinians — 71 women and 169 children.