21 july 2020
The Hamas Movement has said that the Israeli occupation state will never see its captive soldiers except through a prisoner swap deal.
This came in a statement released by Hamas on the sixth anniversary of the Palestinian resistance’s success in capturing Israeli soldier Oron Shaul during the 2014 war on the Gaza Strip.
“Six years ago, our Palestinian people witnessed one of the resistance’s achievements when al-Qassam Brigades was able to capture soldier Shaul Oron in the battle of Asf Makoul,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem said in the statement.
The spokesman stressed that the liberation of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails would remain a top priority for Hamas.
There are at least four Israeli captive soldiers in Gaza, but al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas refuses to provide information about them without Israel releasing all the Palestinians who were rejailed following their release as part of the 2011 swap deal.
This came in a statement released by Hamas on the sixth anniversary of the Palestinian resistance’s success in capturing Israeli soldier Oron Shaul during the 2014 war on the Gaza Strip.
“Six years ago, our Palestinian people witnessed one of the resistance’s achievements when al-Qassam Brigades was able to capture soldier Shaul Oron in the battle of Asf Makoul,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem said in the statement.
The spokesman stressed that the liberation of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails would remain a top priority for Hamas.
There are at least four Israeli captive soldiers in Gaza, but al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas refuses to provide information about them without Israel releasing all the Palestinians who were rejailed following their release as part of the 2011 swap deal.
13 may 2020
According to the Saudi daily Elaph News Agency, senior sources informed its reporter that Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, and Israel, are slated to conduct a prisoner swap as soon as the coming al-Fitr Muslim feast.
Elaph stated that the first stage of this potential prisoner swap agreement is the easy phase, however, the second phase is more complicated as it involves demands for releasing Palestinian detainees serving life terms, including those who were rearrested after their release as part of the Shalit prisoners’ swap agreement, and their life-sentences were reinstated.
It added that Israel has apparently agreed to release all child and ailing detainees in the first phase of the new deal, in exchange for the release of Avraham Mengistu, an Israeli civilian who crossed into Gaza during the 2014 Israeli offensive and has been held by Hamas since then, and Hisham Sayyed, from an Arab Bedouin family in the Negev, who went missing in early 2016, in addition to receiving information about the two soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who are believed to have been killed during the Israeli offensive on Gaza in the summer of 2014.
Yahia Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza, has recently stated that he suggested what he called a “humanitarian prisoner swap deal,” during the current coronavirus crises.
Sinwar proposed holding a swap deal that would secure the release of the detained Israelis in exchange for freeing all children, women, and the elderly Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, in addition to all detainees who are suffering from serious health conditions.
Both Hamas and Israel have entered indirect talks mediated by Egypt, however, German, Swiss, and Russian mediators are also involved in these efforts.
It is worth mentioning that the spokesperson of Hamas and a member of its political bureau, Husam Badran, has stated that Hamas wants a “huge achievement” in the swap deal, “but is not keen about discussing the details with the media.”
He stated that when such indirect talks remain away from the media, it is likely that more positive outcomes would be achieved.
During a press conference on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett, was asked about the possibility of a prisoner exchange deal but refused to comment on the issue.
Last Wednesday, Israeli Transport And Road Safety Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, stated that he intends to oppose any prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas, and added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected his call for holding a session of the state Security Cabinet, to discuss these issues.
Despite all these statements, the likelihood of a deal as soon as the al-Fitr feast remains elusive.
It is worth mentioning that Israel is holding captive more than 5000 Palestinian detainees, including 41 women, 180 children, in addition to 430 who are held under the arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial.
Elaph stated that the first stage of this potential prisoner swap agreement is the easy phase, however, the second phase is more complicated as it involves demands for releasing Palestinian detainees serving life terms, including those who were rearrested after their release as part of the Shalit prisoners’ swap agreement, and their life-sentences were reinstated.
It added that Israel has apparently agreed to release all child and ailing detainees in the first phase of the new deal, in exchange for the release of Avraham Mengistu, an Israeli civilian who crossed into Gaza during the 2014 Israeli offensive and has been held by Hamas since then, and Hisham Sayyed, from an Arab Bedouin family in the Negev, who went missing in early 2016, in addition to receiving information about the two soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who are believed to have been killed during the Israeli offensive on Gaza in the summer of 2014.
Yahia Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza, has recently stated that he suggested what he called a “humanitarian prisoner swap deal,” during the current coronavirus crises.
Sinwar proposed holding a swap deal that would secure the release of the detained Israelis in exchange for freeing all children, women, and the elderly Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, in addition to all detainees who are suffering from serious health conditions.
Both Hamas and Israel have entered indirect talks mediated by Egypt, however, German, Swiss, and Russian mediators are also involved in these efforts.
It is worth mentioning that the spokesperson of Hamas and a member of its political bureau, Husam Badran, has stated that Hamas wants a “huge achievement” in the swap deal, “but is not keen about discussing the details with the media.”
He stated that when such indirect talks remain away from the media, it is likely that more positive outcomes would be achieved.
During a press conference on Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett, was asked about the possibility of a prisoner exchange deal but refused to comment on the issue.
Last Wednesday, Israeli Transport And Road Safety Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, stated that he intends to oppose any prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas, and added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected his call for holding a session of the state Security Cabinet, to discuss these issues.
Despite all these statements, the likelihood of a deal as soon as the al-Fitr feast remains elusive.
It is worth mentioning that Israel is holding captive more than 5000 Palestinian detainees, including 41 women, 180 children, in addition to 430 who are held under the arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial.
6 may 2020
An official source from the Hamas Movement has denied there is any breakthrough in the mediated talks over swapping prisoners with the Israeli occupation government.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Hamas source described the Israeli media claims about achieving some sort of progress in the prisoner swap talks as attempts by the Israeli political echelon to circumvent the initiative that was presented recently by Hamas and mislead the Israeli prisoners’ families.
The source called for not relying on Israeli media reports on this issue, affirming that if there was anything new about this file, the Palestinian resistance would announce it.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Hamas source described the Israeli media claims about achieving some sort of progress in the prisoner swap talks as attempts by the Israeli political echelon to circumvent the initiative that was presented recently by Hamas and mislead the Israeli prisoners’ families.
The source called for not relying on Israeli media reports on this issue, affirming that if there was anything new about this file, the Palestinian resistance would announce it.
Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Wednesday he would oppose a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.
"If such a deal will be put forward, I will firmly oppose it at all costs," said Smotrich in an interview with Ynet.
His comments came following a report by the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit.
According to the report, a senior official in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is one of four international mediators working to arrange a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel.
Two senior German intelligence officials and an Egyptian general who helped arrange the 2011 prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of Gilad Shalit after five years in Hamas captivity are also taking part in the negotiations.
Sources quoted by the report said that during a meeting between German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the leaders agreed that Germany would take an active part in negotiations to bring back the bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin and the return of the two Israeli civilians Hisham al-Sayyed and Avera Mengistu.
"I'm very deeply disturbed by this possibility," said Smotrich. "Although we are committed to returning the bodies of the soldiers and the Israeli citizens from Hamas captivity, there are other means at our disposal, mainly putting pressure on Hamas. Humanitarian assistance could be conditioned on an exchange for humanitarian actions."
Smotrich emphasized that in his view, the release of terrorists cannot be part of any future deal calling it a "red line that cannot be crossed".
The Transportation Minister also decried the lack of periodical updates of cabinet ministers. He continued to say that despite the sensitive nature of the efforts to bring about the release of those held in Gaza and the need to maintain secrecy, "we cannot be allowed to return terrorists with blood on their hands."
"Such a deal is dangerous for Israel, it will cost human lives," Smotrich said. "It is forbidden to release terrorists, period."
"If such a deal will be put forward, I will firmly oppose it at all costs," said Smotrich in an interview with Ynet.
His comments came following a report by the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit.
According to the report, a senior official in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is one of four international mediators working to arrange a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel.
Two senior German intelligence officials and an Egyptian general who helped arrange the 2011 prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of Gilad Shalit after five years in Hamas captivity are also taking part in the negotiations.
Sources quoted by the report said that during a meeting between German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the leaders agreed that Germany would take an active part in negotiations to bring back the bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin and the return of the two Israeli civilians Hisham al-Sayyed and Avera Mengistu.
"I'm very deeply disturbed by this possibility," said Smotrich. "Although we are committed to returning the bodies of the soldiers and the Israeli citizens from Hamas captivity, there are other means at our disposal, mainly putting pressure on Hamas. Humanitarian assistance could be conditioned on an exchange for humanitarian actions."
Smotrich emphasized that in his view, the release of terrorists cannot be part of any future deal calling it a "red line that cannot be crossed".
The Transportation Minister also decried the lack of periodical updates of cabinet ministers. He continued to say that despite the sensitive nature of the efforts to bring about the release of those held in Gaza and the need to maintain secrecy, "we cannot be allowed to return terrorists with blood on their hands."
"Such a deal is dangerous for Israel, it will cost human lives," Smotrich said. "It is forbidden to release terrorists, period."
17 apr 2020
Senior Hamas official Mousa Dudeen has categorically denied that a delegation from his Movement headed for Cairo to hold talks with Egyptian officials about an intended prisoner swap deal with the Israeli side, calling news reports in this regard as “untrue.”
In press remarks on Thursday, Dudeen affirmed that the news reports that talked about such visit by a Hamas delegation to Cairo and achieving a breakthrough in alleged talks about a swap deal were fabrications.
Israel’s Channel 12 claimed on Wednesday that a delegation from Hamas, including a military official, traveled to Cairo to start talks with Egyptian mediators about a prisoner swap deal with the Israeli government.
In press remarks on Thursday, Dudeen affirmed that the news reports that talked about such visit by a Hamas delegation to Cairo and achieving a breakthrough in alleged talks about a swap deal were fabrications.
Israel’s Channel 12 claimed on Wednesday that a delegation from Hamas, including a military official, traveled to Cairo to start talks with Egyptian mediators about a prisoner swap deal with the Israeli government.
16 apr 2020
The Hamas Movement has said that the Israeli occupation government has not taken any tangible and serious steps until now towards the humanitarian imitative announced recently by its chief Yahya al-Sinwar for a prisoner exchange deal.
In a press release on Thursday, Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif Qanoua said that the success and failure of Sinwar’s initiative depends on the Israeli government’s seriousness and its decision to seize such opportunity.
“The issue of the prisoners is a top priority for the Movement’s leadership in such sensitive times and Sinwar’s initiative represents the human dimension for the release of detainees,” Qanoua said.
For his part, senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri said “his Movement holds several trump cards and will use them to pressure the occupation leaders to yield to the resistance’s conditions in any upcoming swap deal.”
“We reiterate our readiness for the prisoner swap initiative, and all circumvention attempts by the enemy do not serve the captive soldiers [in Gaza],” Masri added.
In a press release on Thursday, Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif Qanoua said that the success and failure of Sinwar’s initiative depends on the Israeli government’s seriousness and its decision to seize such opportunity.
“The issue of the prisoners is a top priority for the Movement’s leadership in such sensitive times and Sinwar’s initiative represents the human dimension for the release of detainees,” Qanoua said.
For his part, senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri said “his Movement holds several trump cards and will use them to pressure the occupation leaders to yield to the resistance’s conditions in any upcoming swap deal.”
“We reiterate our readiness for the prisoner swap initiative, and all circumvention attempts by the enemy do not serve the captive soldiers [in Gaza],” Masri added.
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