Netanyahu sends Israeli delegation to negotiate prisoner swap deal

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office statement added that Netanyahu reiterated to Biden during a phone call that Israel would not end the war until “all its goals are achieved,” according to Reuters.

For its part, the White House said that President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the latest response from the Palestinian factions movement regarding the ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of detainees.

The White House added, in a statement, that Biden welcomed Netanyahu’s decision to allow Israeli negotiators to deal with American, Qatari and Egyptian mediators in an attempt to reach a ceasefire agreement.

He pointed out that Biden and Netanyahu welcomed the meeting scheduled to be held on July 15 between the national security teams of the two countries.

Channel 12 reported that the head of Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence agency, Yossi Cohen, will lead the delegation to the detainees’ talks.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Wednesday evening that Israel had received the response of the factions movement to a proposal announced by US President Joe Biden in late May, which would include the release of regarding 120 hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire in the Palestinian sector.

Security officials in Tel Aviv told Israeli public radio that “this is the best response that has been provided by the factions’ movement so far, and it forms the basis for moving forward with the negotiations.”

Egypt and Qatar are mediating efforts to end the nearly nine-month conflict, and rounds of talks have been held in both countries. A Palestinian source close to the mediation efforts told Reuters that the factions’ movement had shown flexibility on some of the terms, and that this would allow for a framework agreement if Israel agreed.

The plan includes the gradual release of Israeli prisoners still held in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces during the first two stages, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The third stage will include the reconstruction of the war-torn Strip and the return of the remains of prisoners who died.

Source: Agencies