The BBC has suddenly discovered—hold onto your hat, here—that the prisoners’ document does not include Hamas recognition of Israel.
Rival Palestinian political factions Fatah and Hamas have reached agreement on a common political strategy to try to end a damaging power struggle.
However, Hamas negotiators have denied earlier reports that the deal meant the militants would implicitly recognise Israel – a major policy shift.
And there is much sadness at BBC headquarters today. The emperor has no clothes, and the loyal nobles of the BBC are feeling embarrassed.
The BBC’s James Reynolds in Gaza says that the central point of the joint manifesto is the creation of a Palestinian state on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Traditionally that is one half of a two-state solution, but the existing drafts of the deal make no mention of the second half of this solution – the state of Israel.
This omission is deliberate, our correspondent says.
While some have argued that this means Hamas tacitly accepts Israel’s right to exist, it is becoming clear that that is not how Hamas sees it.
Hamas negotiators have told the BBC that the entire state of Israel has been built on occupied Palestinian land.
They believe that a Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza is a first step – not a final step.
They believe that future generations of Palestinians will reclaim all their historic homeland. And that, in the end, there will be no room for what is now the Jewish state of Israel, our correspondent says.
Gee, I could have told them that. Oh, wait. I did. And did. And did. And did. And did. And there are probably more posts, but I’m too tired to link any more.
But cheer up, BBCers! You can always start lying about IDF war crimes in Gaza during Operation Summer Rains.