Hamas has set conditions for releasing Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners under the implementation of the "20-Point Plan", including a complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Hamas and Israel are scheduled to begin indirect negotiations in Egypt on the 6th regarding the U.S.-proposed "20-Point Plan" covering ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza, as well as an initial Israeli troop withdrawal. Hamas sources told Saudi Arabia's Al-Ekhbariya TV that the conditions for mutual exchange of detainees include: a complete ceasefire; Israeli forces to withdraw to the positions where they were stationed during the last ceasefire agreement reached in January this year; Israeli military aircraft and drones to suspend flights for 10 hours daily, and on the day of releases, flight suspension should be extended to 12 hours.
The source stated that the negotiations might last for a week or longer, and Hamas will demand the implementation of these measures throughout the talks.
Several Hamas officials revealed that the negotiations will also discuss the criteria for releasing Palestinian prisoners. Hamas insists on using the length of sentence served and the prisoners' age as the criteria, i.e., compiling the release list according to the order of arrest and the ages of the prisoners.
According to Al-Ekhbariya TV, Hamas demands the release of Marwan Barghouti, a leader of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah); Ahmad Saadat, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); and Ibrahim Hamed, former Hamas military leader in the West Bank, all of whom have been held by Israel for many years as "major offenders."
The “20-Point Plan” also demands that Hamas disarm, that Gaza be demilitarized, and that a temporary “international stabilization force” be deployed.