Hamas: Many are mediating prisoner swap deal

Both regional and international players are mediating a prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, a senior member in the Palestinian resistance movement has said.

Speaking to Al-Jazeera, Hamdan explained that there are talks to ease the siege imposed on Gaza but no results have been reached so far. He pointed out that Hamas’ policy is not to sever relations with any party.

Saudi’s Al-Hayat newspaper yesterday reported Western sources as saying that Germany began negotiating with Hamas and Israel nearly three years ago to secure a prisoner exchange deal similar to the one that had been reached in 2011 and led to the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,050 Palestinian prisoners.

The sources added that two German envoys visited the Gaza Strip several times in secret and met with Hamas negotiators.

Haniyeh: Hamas ready for prisoner start swap deal with Israel