Amid ongoing discussions involving the United States, the Zionist entity, Arab nations, regional and international bodies concerning negotiations with Palestinian resistance, a persistent atmosphere of delay and obstruction has clouded the process.
Despite efforts to forge a five-day truce and execute a prisoner exchange, negotiations have encountered hurdles due to the Israeli continued aggression against the Gaza Strip.
Ziad Nakhalah, Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, articulated concerns in a statement, hinting at potential withdrawal from media-hyped negotiations: “The negotiation approach, particularly regarding our prisoners and the enemy’s reactions, may compel the Jihad Movement to opt out of the discussed deal, holding our prisoners for improved terms.”
The deadlock is primarily attributed to the Zionist enemy’s obstructive stance.
Despite lacking any substantial military gains in the war on Gaza, the enemy’s demands, particularly concerning the “all-for-all equation” in the exchange of civilians, women, and children, remain contentious.
The enemy’s insistence on a comprehensive list of personnel while sustaining hostilities is deemed unfeasible, considering many individuals in this category are not affiliated with the Hamas movement.
Furthermore, impediments arise from the enemy’s attempt to limit the age of recognized children to 19 years, contrary to captured soldiers who are 18, thereby disputing their status as minors.
Notably, the resistance proposed an alternate resolution, suggesting payment exchanges contingent upon a ceasefire.
Crucially, disagreements persist regarding the enemy’s definition of civilians, solely categorizing those without military attire.
This stance disregards instances where soldiers, apprehended during the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7, were in uniform while captured in a state of rest.
The enemy’s insistence on defining soldiers exclusively as individuals arrested while armed and in uniform further complicates negotiations.
The Israeli criterion for defining Israeli citizens in captivity as those without dual nationalities excludes numerous prisoners, necessitating negotiation by their respective countries holding their nationalities, introducing an additional layer of complexity to the negotiations.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
