The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper explains that Hamas is insisting that Marwan Barghouti be included in the upcoming deal with Israel.

The newspaper cited sources as saying that there were assessments pointing to the “immaturity” of a new prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel before the first week of January.

Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’s political bureau, arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss declaring a possible ceasefire between the movement and Israel in the ongoing war in Gaza.

The movement said in a statement that Haniyeh arrived in Cairo to discuss developments in the war in Gaza and “several files” with Egyptian officials.

Haniyeh, along with a delegation from Hamas, will meet Abbas Kamal, the head of the Egyptian intelligence department.

Before leaving Doha, Haniyeh met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian, according to Iranian media.

A source in the Jihad movement told Agence France-Presse that a group led by the movement’s secretary-general, Ziyad al-Nakala, would travel to Cairo early next week at the invitation of Egypt, “within a framework aimed at halting discussions.” War and occupation with Israel, a cease-fire and a comprehensive exchange agreement.

After more than two months of war, despite Israel continuing its devastating bombing and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, some movements signaled a move to declare a second ceasefire after a week-long one in late November. 105 hostages in the Gaza Strip were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.