Israel agrees to prisoner-hostage exchange and is awaiting Hamas’ response, CNN affiliate and analyst say

CNN
 — 

Israel agreed to a US proposal on a prisoner-hostage exchange that would release around 700 Palestinian prisoners, among them 100 serving life sentences for killing Israeli nationals, in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli hostages, CNN affiliate Kan News reported Sunday, citing a senior Israeli official.

Earlier in the weekend, CNN analyst Barak Ravid, citing an unnamed Israeli official, tweeted that Israel agreed to a US “bridging proposal” on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released for every hostage held by Hamas.

Israel agreed to the proposal put forth by CIA Director Bill Burns, according to Ravid. Burns was in Doha, Qatar, where Hamas and Israel are engaged in talks through mediators.

The delegations are now waiting for a Hamas response, Ravid said.

A diplomatic source briefed on the matter confirmed to CNN the accuracy of Ravid’s information but said outstanding issues remain, including the entry of aid and “Israeli military repositioning” in Gaza.

CNN has reached out to Israeli officials and Hamas on the status of the talks.

The latest proposal by Hamas this month demanded that some 700 to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners be released. Israel at the time described the demands as “ridiculous” and “absurd.”

Kan News reported that, according to the official, Israel is ready to make “significant compromises in order to return the abductees home.”

An agreement, if it happens, is expected to have multiple phases. In the first stage, Hamas has proposed releasing the hostages who are women – including Israeli soldiers – elderly, sick and wounded. That number is believed to be roughly 40 out of the around 100 hostages who remain alive.

Mossad Director David Barnea, along with a top-level Israeli security delegation, visited Doha twice this week for talks.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNN’s Abel Alvarado contributed to this report.