Potential Prisoner Swap between Hamas, Israel

Arab World

May 1st, 8:23am

Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat

Israeli Zehava Shaul, the mother of Israeli soldier Oron Shaul, speaks during a press conference on June 29, 2016 next to her husband Herzel (R) at their protest tent outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem. Photo by GALI TIBBON/AFP via Getty Images.

Reports have surfaced over a potential prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel mediated by Egypt once the new Israeli government is formed in a few weeks, sources revealed. Israeli Minister of Housing and Construction Yoav Gallant described the contact with Hamas as initial but affirmed that there was progress. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with the ministerial committee for prisoners and missing persons affairs regarding the ongoing contact with Hamas to carry out the exchange. During the meeting, the conferees heard that Israel offered humanitarian aid to Gaza in its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Israel's Coordinator for Captives and Missing Persons Yaron Blum met on Thursday family members of prisoners Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, detained by Hamas since 2014. The Goldin family affirmed in a released statement that there is an opportunity to bring back Goldin, Shaul and civilians Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed from Hamas. “To miss the opportunity now is national irresponsibility,” the Goldin family added. A reliable source revealed that while Israel insists on a single phase swap to secure the release of the four detained Israelis, Hamas wants on a two-phase deal. Israel also demands that the deal be part of a 10-year truce, but Hamas doesn't heed this proposal.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2262186/potential-prisoner-swap-between-hamas-israel