Hamas spokesperson Moshir al-Masri said Thursday that the Palestinian resistance has winning cards that it can use to oblige Israeli officials to accept its conditions over the prisoner swap deal.
In a press conference marking Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, Masri affirmed that the resistance is willing to approve a dignified deal that falls under its conditions.
He added that elderlies, women and children shouldn’t remain under the oppression of the occupation prisons.
The Hamas official warned that all attempts of procrastination by the occupation aren't in the best interest of Israeli captives, assuring the Palestinian captives and their families that their issue is a top priority and in safe hands.
Hamas holds four captives: Two Israeli citizens who crossed into Gaza on their own accord (Avraham Mengistu and Hashem Badawi al-Sayid) and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014’s Gaza war (Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin).
The matter was put back on the table when Yahya Sanwar, who leads Hamas in the Gaza Strip, launched a new initiative two weeks ago. Mediators contacted Hamas but they didn’t come back with responses.
If the humanitarian deal succeeded, both parties would move towards a holistic deal by which Hamas hands out its captives in return for Israel releasing officials and detainees and not only patients, elderlies, women and children.
Israeli officials stated Thursday that there is a rare chance to seal this deal.
Meanwhile, reliable Israeli sources said the deal is likely to be reached in few weeks. They told Israel Hayom newspaper that a rare chance is imminent, while they warned of possible procrastination by both parties.
