The Kan public broadcaster quoted on Wednesday high-ranking Egyptian sources as saying that Cairo has lately received a “surprising and unprecedented” message from Israel to activate the prisoner swap deal talks with Hamas.
“Israeli officials informed the Egyptian mediator, over the phone, about the possibility of holding special sessions to discuss the prisoner swap deal, and the roadmap that Hamas had recently proposed,” the Hebrew channel said.
Recently, Israeli sources told the Ynetnews website, that there was no breakthrough in negotiations to secure the return of Israelis held by Hamas.
According to Senior Israeli officials, Jerusalem opposes any release of Hamas prisoners with blood on their hands, it said.
Other media reports said Hamas made a two-stage proposal: First, the Movement should release two Israeli civilians, Avraham "Avera" Mengistu and Hisham Al Sayeed, and offer information on the remains of soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, in exchange for Israel’s release of women, children, and some of the prisoners who were rearrested after the 2011 deal.
In the second phase, Israel would release thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving long sentences, in exchange for Israeli soldiers.
