Israel offers Gaza reconstruction in return for ‘information’ on captive soldiers

Israel will allow the reconstruction of the besieged Gaza Strip in exchange for information about Israeli soldiers held as prisoners of war in the enclave, Israeli radio reported.

Tel Aviv’s offer represents a preliminary retraction from its previous condition in which it stipulated that Hamas must return two captive troops and the remains of two others in return for rebuilding Gaza, the station said.

Last Thursday, an Israeli delegation met with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo to discuss consolidating the ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza.

The head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, has rejected suggestions that Qatari aid for Palestinian families living in poverty would be channeled through the UN.

Qatar has pledged $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza but the main obstacle is how to transfer the amount to the besieged enclave.

Media reports claim that Israel has threatened to block the Gaza reconstruction process unless progress is made on the return of two Israeli prisoners of war and the remains of two others.

It is feared that the indirect talks to uphold the ceasefire may fail as a result of the  stipulations and a new confrontation may begin, with Israel bombing Gaza once again.

READ: Israel’s demands for Gaza’s reconstruction must be opposed