US trying to save prisoner exchange deal with new mediation proposal 

The US is expected to present a new mediation proposal this week, in another attempt to save the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. At the same time, the US is also putting intense pressure on mediators Egypt and Qatar to pressure the Islamic Resistance Movement to be flexible. According to sources familiar with the matter, there is a development in this direction behind the scenes.

“If Hamas is truly flexible regarding its demands, the Americans will present a mediation proposal and will also demand that Israel make concessions,” said Yedioth Ahronoth. “The understanding in Israel is that Washington has not yet decided whether and when to present its proposal, and it seems that it fears that presenting the proposal at this moment will lead to an explosion. Therefore, the Americans prefer to try to exert pressure and find a proposal that will allow the negotiations to advance, rather than one or both sides rejecting it.”

A senior Israeli government official said over the weekend that there is “doubt” that the Americans will ultimately make an offer.

The US is expected to up the pressure on two issues: not advancing to a large-scale military campaign with Lebanon and agreeing to the exchange deal. “[Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar currently has no interest in the deal and is building on the pressure being exerted on Israel in the international arena,” claimed the Israeli official.

However, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that Sinwar “will soon send a message to the Palestinian people and the world.”

Israel has told the Americans that they must reach an understanding with Egypt and Qatar and that Qatar has not yet used the leverage it can use against Hamas.

An Israeli source familiar with the details said that if Israel reaches an agreement with Egypt regarding the presence of the Israeli army in the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Egypt and Gaze, it will be difficult for Hamas to “climb the tree” and also be a party to the event. “We need to make Egypt the mediators, not those who are taking sides because they don’t want us in Philadelphi either,” added the source.

Last week, CIA Director William Burns promised to present a new proposal for a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza soon.

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