In Egypt, Israel discusses Hamas prisoner swap deal

An Israeli delegation is currently in Egypt in an effort to reach a prisoner swap agreement with Hamas, Israel’s army radio reported today, according to Anadolu Agency.

The official channel said that the delegation was led by the Israeli government’s Prisoners of War and Missing Persons Coordinator, Yaron Blum, and other security officials.

Egypt has been mediating between the Israeli army and Hamas leaders to exchange four Israeli prisoners of war with Palestinians held in the occupation’s prisons. Following its efforts to reach a truce after the Gaza attack in May, many Israeli delegations visited Egypt, but no progress has been made on the issue.

Egyptian authorities have made no comment regarding the delegation.

Israel believes the bodies of two of its soldiers, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin and Sergeant Oron Shaul, are being held in Gaza after they were killed during the 2014 assault on the enclave. This is in addition to two alleged civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed, who Hamas says are also soldiers and are being held as prisoners of war.

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