The head of Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said that the movement would not give up the Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Haniyeh called on official and popular Arab organizations to assume their duty towards the prisoners and detainees, who sacrifice their freedom for the sake of Jerusalem and Palestine.
Sources in the movement told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas was seeking a partial deal, to be the prelude to one big comprehensive swap agreement.
“It is not about an exchange deal in the traditional sense. We are now seeking a humanitarian deal based on the release of patients, women and children, in exchange for something the movement would offer,” the sources said.
While the sources did not disclose what Hamas would offer in return, but estimates indicated that the movement was ready to provide information about its Israeli prisoners.
Hamas has four Israeli soldiers: Shaul Aaron and Hadar Golden, who were captured by the movement in the war that broke out in the summer of 2014, and Abraham Mengistu and Hashem Badawi Al-Sayed, who hold Israeli citizenship and who separately entered Gaza of their own free will after the Gaza war.
Hamas seems to be ready to provide information about the condition of the soldiers, and this might include information on the health situation of Mengistu and Sayed and the release of both or one of them, depending on the price that Israel would pay.
Two weeks ago, the head of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar announced his movement’s readiness to offer “partial compensation” to Israel, in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees.
The Israeli government replied by saying it was ready to start indirect talks with Hamas, to conclude an agreement leading to the release of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip. Mediators have already called Hamas, but they have not yet conveyed the Israeli response.
