To choose conditions: Hamas demands withdrawal of Israeli troops before transfer of prisoners

Hamas links the release of the hostages to a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. At the first round of negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, the movement conveyed its terms to the mediators, stressing that the ongoing attacks on the exclave jeopardize the prisoner exchange process. Other fundamental requirements include the inclusion in the exchange lists of reputable Hamas supporters serving long and life sentences in Israeli prisons, as well as ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid. The negotiations will last several days due to serious differences between the positions of the movement and Israel.

The Palestinians have retaliated against Israel

The Hamas delegation to the talks in Egypt, which started on October 6, was led by two surviving leaders of the movement after the Israeli strike in Doha on September 9, Khalil al-Haya and Zaher Jabarin. The Israeli delegation included representatives of the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence services, Ofir Falk, the Prime Minister's foreign policy adviser, and Gal Hirsch, the hostage coordinator. Ron Dermer, the Minister of Strategic Affairs, will join them later.

The first meeting took place in Sharm el-Sheikh and took about four hours. At the same time, the Egyptian media noted that the negotiations "took place in a positive manner" and continued on October 7. The parties have agreed on a roadmap for negotiations, but consultations may be delayed due to differences between the positions of Hamas and Israel.

Among the key issues discussed in the first round were the exchange of hostages — dead and alive — for Palestinian prisoners serving sentences in Israeli prisons, including leaders and veterans of the movement, withdrawal schemes for Israeli troops, as well as ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and the transfer of control of Gaza to an independent Palestinian authority.

Hamas has set its own conditions. According to media reports, at the first round of negotiations held in Egypt on October 6, Hamas demanded that Israel cease fire and withdraw troops from residential areas of the Gaza Strip before the hostage exchange.

"Khalil al—Haya repeated the previous positions of Hamas, which remain unchanged, and they contradict the official response of the group made public by Trump," Roman Yanushevsky, editor—in-chief of the website of the 9th Israeli TV channel, told Izvestia.

Recall that on October 3, Hamas announced its readiness to release all living Israeli hostages and transfer the bodies of the dead according to the plan of American President Donald Trump.

During the negotiations in Egypt, the movement also insists on including six of its most influential supporters, who are serving long and life sentences in Israeli prisons, on the lists of Palestinians to be released, the Maan news agency notes. According to him, this demand by Hamas is considered one of the most controversial and may complicate reaching an agreement between the parties.

Sources of the Saudi Asharq TV channel report that the parties discussed procedural mechanisms for further consultations. It is planned to consider the issues of a cease—fire, the exchange of hostages and the transfer of detained Israeli citizens — the living and the dead - within a few days. According to the sources of the TV channel, the negotiations may last about a week.

The Palestinian movement believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may try to create obstacles to a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, said Fawzi Barhoum, a member of the political bureau and official representative of the movement. According to him, on the day of the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, the movement continues to insist on a complete and permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the exclave, a "fair exchange" of hostages, the restoration of Gaza's infrastructure, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of Palestinians to their homes in the north of the exclave.

Israel strikes Gaza

Despite the negotiations, Israel continues to conduct military operations: the IDF attacked various areas of Gaza on October 7, the day of the second anniversary of the Hamas attack. Residents of the city reported that the shelling did not stop throughout the day.

Palestinian political analyst Mohammed Jaradat, in a commentary for Al Mayadeen TV channel, noted that even before Trump's statements, Hamas demanded an immediate end to the shelling of Gaza. According to him, since the beginning of Saturday, Israel has justified the strikes with "self-defense", while not conducting a ground offensive. The political scientist stressed that it was these strikes that led to the deaths of 70 civilians the day after Trump's statement, then 19 and 12 people in the following days, and although the number of victims is gradually decreasing, there has been no complete cessation of aggression by Israel.

Palestinian factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other armed groups, emphasized in a joint statement on October 7 that "choosing resistance by all means is the only way to resist the Israeli enemy."

Hani Salah, an expert on Palestinian resistance issues, believes that there are no guarantees of a complete end to the war in the current conditions, and Israel is acting with the full support of the United States.

"Hamas has agreed to the first phase of the hostage exchange in order to prevent further civilian deaths, while the possibility of Israeli hostages dying amid shelling remains high," he told Izvestia.

Hani Salah points to a gradual reduction in arguments for continuing the war and increasing the country's international isolation, which creates pressure on the leadership in Israel, making the prospect of implementing Trump's plan more likely.

Meanwhile, in Israel, on the day of the second anniversary of the attack, the events of October 2023 were recalled: 251 people were captured and taken to Gaza. Some of them are still being held captive — only about 20 of them may be alive. Commemorative events were held in Tel Aviv at the Hostage Square and in the places affected that day.

At the same time, Netanyahu's words in an interview with political commentator Ben Shapiro caused dissatisfaction in Israel. The Prime Minister may have mistakenly announced the 46 remaining hostages in Gaza instead of 48. The Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons demanded an explanation from the Israeli Prime Minister. "To keep you informed, there are 48 hostages in Gaza,— the forum representatives said. — For us and for the entire people of Israel, who have been taking to the streets every week for two years, each of them is a whole world. All of them must return home: the living for rehabilitation, and the dead for burial on their land."

Meanwhile, supporters of Palestine held protests in several cities on October 7. Anti-Israel rallies were held in Sydney, as well as in European cities including Athens, Geneva, London, Paris, Istanbul and Stockholm.