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Israeli intelligence service Mossad Director David Barnea has reportedly endorsed the continuation of Israeli military strikes on Gaza following the initial phase of a potential prisoner exchange and cease-fire agreement with Hamas. During a meeting with the Israeli Security Cabinet, Barnea expressed his support for resuming attacks after the first stage of the cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Barnea participated in the Security Cabinet meeting to discuss the current stage of the prisoner exchange negotiations. Barnea, aligning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, argued that the Israeli army should renew its operations in Gaza after the initial phase of the cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement.
The indirect prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas consists of three phases. The first phase includes an immediate cease-fire, the release of women, elderly, and injured prisoners, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza, increased humanitarian aid, the reconstruction of essential services, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes across the Gaza Strip, including northern Gaza, and the international community's provision of necessary housing assistance.
If the negotiations for the first phase extend beyond six weeks, the cease-fire will continue until the negotiations are concluded. Following the parties' agreement, the second phase will involve the final resolution of the crisis with the release of all remaining prisoners and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
In the third phase, a multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza will be initiated, and the bodies of deceased prisoners will be returned.
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