Prisoner swap negotiations at a dead end: Israeli official

JERUSALEM (AA) – A top Israeli military official said Tuesday that prisoner swap negotiations with Hamas had reached a dead end, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

“At the moment, there is no deal,” Gen. Nitzan Alon,  told the families of the Israelis held in Gaza, adding “the gaps are too great.”

Asked by one family representative if he could provide a timeframe for an agreement, Alon replied: “I can’t.”

Another family representative responded with frustration, suggesting that without a timeline, the situation could extend for several more months during the US presidential election cycle.

Channel 12 reported that the overall sentiment among the families was one of frustration and pessimism.

“The families are left desperate, frustrated and hurt,” it said.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Thursday that Tel Aviv had submitted a new proposal to Washington aimed at facilitating a prisoner exchange and ending the war on Gaza.

Hamas has repeatedly said that it does not wish to entertain new proposals and that it stands by the framework put forward by President Joe Biden.

In May, Biden said Israel presented a three-phase deal that would end attacks in Gaza and secure the release of the Israelis held in the coastal enclave. The plan includes a cease-fire, a prisoner exchange and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Tel Aviv’s latest proposal reportedly includes “safe passage for (Hamas leader) Yahya Sinwar and others wishing to leave Gaza, the release of an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners, the disarmament of Gaza and the implementation of a governance mechanism for the territory,” according to the broadcaster.

For months, the US, Qatar and Egypt have been making efforts for an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange, a cease-fire and the passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

But these efforts have been stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demand to stop the war.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza since an attack by Hamas last October. It has ignored a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Israel has killed nearly 41,500 people, mostly women and children, and injured around 96,100 in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory. Its blockades have led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.