Hamas: Israel is not serious about prisoner swap deal

A view of the exhibition held by Hamas to draw attention to situations of detainees in Israeli jails within the 10th anniversary of the prisoner swap in 2011, at the Unknown Soldier Monument in Gaza City, Gaza on October 13, 2021 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas said yesterday that Israel is not serious about reaching a prisoner swap deal, Al-Aqsa TV reported.

In an exclusive interview with the channel, senior Hamas leader, Khalil Al-Hayya, said: “The [Israeli] occupation is not serious about reaching a prisoner swap… We will continue our efforts to release our prisoners using every means.”

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 in battle 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.

The Palestinian resistance movement seeks to guarantee the release of about 5,000 Palestinian prisoners in return for the Israeli soldiers. Israel is, however, looking to ease the siege on the Strip instead.

Meanwhile, he said that the Israeli occupation continues its violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that this would trigger a new response by the Palestinian resistance.

READ: Hamas insists Israeli soldiers will not be released without prisoner deal

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