Hamas has reportedly demanded the release of Fatah’s top official, Marwan Barghoutiin the first phase of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, according to Sky News Arabia.

According to the same publication, mediators – including United States – accepted a request for the hugely popular Palestinian leader to be among the first prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages if Israel and Hamas agree to a truce plan they have been discussing for months.

Barghouti has been serving the last twenty years of a life sentence in Israeli prisons.

Citing anonymous sources, the Sky News Arabia reports that Hamas has asked for his release as it knows it cannot return to power in the Gaza Strip and sees Barghouti as being able to take over post-war Gaza.

Hamas reportedly again demanded Baghouti’s release during negotiations in March.

It should be noted that the governments of the US, Egypt and Qatar put pressure on Israel and Hamas on Thursday to resume next week, either in Doha or Cairo, indirect negotiations to overcome their differences and conclude a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, where the war is in its 308th day.

In a joint statement, the three mediating countries invited the parties to resume talks next Thursday, August 15, recalling that there is already a framework agreement “on the table at the moment” and all that remains is to agree “the details of its implementation”.

“As mediators we are ready, if necessary, to present a final proposal that will resolve the implementation issues (including a possible agreement) in a way that will meet the expectations of all parties,” they added.