Israeli Labor MP Emilie Moatti revealed on Saturday progress in the indirect talks with the Hamas Movement over the return of Israeli civilians and remains of Israeli soldiers being held by the Palestinian group.
“There is progress on the issue of the prisoners and missing persons,” Moatti said without elaborating.
“It is sensitive and confidential and there are moves that I will not detail, but I am optimistic that they will be home soon,” Moatti, a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said during an event in Petah Tikva.
Little progress has been made in the swap deal amid accusations by both Israel and Hamas that they have missed opportunities to hold the exchange.
Three weeks ago, Hamas politburo member in charge of the swap, Zaher Jabarin said the movement will force Israel to go ahead with the deal in spite of Tel Aviv's politial indifference over the issue.
He accused Israel of not being serious over the file and of dismissing Hamas' proposals and other efforts that have been made in this issue.
He revealed that mediators from Switzerland, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Norway and Germany had all intervened to achieve a breakthrough, but they all "reached the conclusion that Israel was not serious about striking a deal at this stage."
There are four Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza, including soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who were captured by the movement in the war that broke out in the summer of 2014. Israel believes they are dead, however, Hamas does not provide any information about their fate.
Hamas is also detaining Avraham "Avera" Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent, and Hisham al-Sayed, of Arab descent. Both crossed Gaza borders at two different times after the war.
There are about 4,500 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
Israeli sources said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett fears his coalition will collapse if he takes a step that includes the release of senior prisoners.
