A senior Israeli officer monitors the motives for reaching a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas as soon as possible.

After Hamas announced its agreement to a partial deal for the release of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, calls have intensified in the occupying state to take advantage of this opportunity to save the prisoners, as refusal is seen as a death sentence for them. Senior Israeli officer Doron Hedar, commander of the crisis and negotiations unit in the occupying army, indicated that this deal represents a real opportunity to save those who can be saved.

In his article, Hedar explained that Hamas agreed to the Witekof 2 deal, which includes the return of half of the living prisoners, followed by the return of the dead, after which intensive negotiations will begin to end the war. He emphasized the necessity for the occupying state to immediately enter the negotiation room given the critical situation of the hostages, as their lives are at risk.

Hedar also noted that the previous deal made in November 2023, which included women and children, was the result of American pressure on Qatar, leading to ongoing pressure on Hamas. However, at that time, the occupying state was not prepared to expand the deal to include adult men.

As the American elections approach in January 2025, both sides have been pressured to implement the interim deal between Netanyahu and Biden, resulting in the release of 33 prisoners, but the subsequent stages were not completed. The occupying state sought to achieve its larger goal of defeating Hamas.

Currently, the occupying state is going through a pivotal phase as it continues to eliminate the second tier of Hamas leadership, while operational pressure on the elements holding the hostages in the Gaza tunnels increases. At the same time, Hamas is trying to portray the occupation as starving the residents of Gaza, leading to an unprecedented international crisis.

Under these circumstances, the occupying state has devised a plan to expand military maneuvers and occupy the city of Gaza. International mediators, especially the American side, are seeking to end the war and alleviate international pressure on Tel Aviv, prompting them to meet with senior officials in Qatar and Egypt.

Hamas, realizing the shrinking space for its maneuvering, was forced to enter into partial negotiations, with mediators emphasizing the need to closely monitor these negotiations. In return, the margin for maneuvering for the occupying state is shrinking, which will first receive half of the prisoners.

All indications point to the mediators' intention to push for serious negotiations to end the war, as Egyptian plans include freezing Hamas's weapons and its readiness to send forces to support the alternative government in Gaza. Despite the obstacles, these negotiations remain the only way to achieve the war's objectives.