Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh said Friday Egypt was mediating between Israel and his movement over a possible new prisoner swap.
“Our brothers in Egypt are following up on several issues, including the reconciliation [presumably between Hamas and Fatah], the Rafah border crossing, and the prisoner exchange issues,” he reportedly told journalists in Beirut.
Haniyeh did not reveal whether there was progress in this issue or not, but informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that no major breakthrough has been reached, confirming that “new, continuous and serious talks” are underway.
“Israel has requested readdressing the issue, and Hamas is open to any mediation and its conditions are clear,” the sources said.
A condition for any prisoner swap deal with Israel is the release of dozens of Palestinians who were rearrested following a 2011 exchange with Hamas, they revealed, stressing that “Hamas is ready for a humanitarian or comprehensive agreement.”
Under the 2011 deal, Israel released 1,027 Palestinians in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted in 2006.
In early April, Hamas chief in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar announced an initiative to release soldiers captured by the Qassam Brigades – the movement’s military wing - in exchange for elderly, female, ill, and child prisoners.
Tel Aviv has for the past few months been pushing for a comprehensive and a final agreement.
The sources said that Hamas was also ready to strike a final deal, stressing that Israel must go beyond releasing the bodies of its fighters and the sick and elderly, but also include hundreds of prisoners, including those in jail for several years and others sentenced to life.
An Egyptian security delegation had discussed these issues and others during a two-day visit to Israel and Gaza on Thursday.
It arrived in Gaza following a Qatari-sponsored preliminary ceasefire agreement, which stipulates that Israel cancels all recent restrictions it imposed on the coastal enclave in exchange for Hamas’ halt of its escalation. Hamas has been demanding that Israel lift its siege on Gaza, allow the establishment of major projects, a free trade zone and a floating port.
Hamas is holding four Israelis, including Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who were captured by the movement in the war that broke out in the summer of 2014. Israel believes Shaul and Goldin are dead, however, Hamas does not provide any information about them.
Also, Hamas is also holding Avera Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent, and Hashim Badawi al-Sayyid, who is of Arab descent. Both crossed Gaza borders at two different times after the war.
There are some 5,000 Palestinian political prisoners, including 41 women and 180 minors, in Israeli prisons.
