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Abu-Marzouk: Several parties involved in prisoner exchange deal with Israel

December 16, 2014 at 2:02 pm

Several parties have intervened to conclude a prisoner exchange deal between the Palestinians and Israelis, the head of Hamas’s Political Bureau Mousa Abu-Marzouk said.

In a televised interview with Ma’an TV yesterday evening, Abu-Marzouk said: “It is still early to talk about any prisoner exchange deal with Israel.” He explained that Hamas will not reveal anything related to the Israeli soldiers held by the movement until Israel implements what has been agreed upon in the ceasefire agreement which was concluded on 26 August in Cairo.”

Commenting on the reconciliation efforts with the Fatah movement, Abu-Marzouk pointed out that they are on hold following President Mahmoud Abbas’s decision. “If President Abbas said go with the reconciliation we will implement it immediately,” he said.

During the recent Israeli war on Gaza, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, captured Israeli soldier Shaul Aaron during an incursion east of Gaza City. Two days later, the Israeli army announced that Aaron had been captured but claimed he might have been killed in battle.

Israel also accuses Hamas of holding the body of another officer, Hadar Goldin, who was killed in an armed clash east of Rafah, on 1 August. The movement has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.