Israel may be negotiating with Hamas for a prisoner exchange

Last week, an Egyptian delegation visited the Gaza Strip, according to various sources, for meetings with Hamas. The aim of the delegation would be, on the one hand, to look for a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, with which the two Palestinian factions could be brought closer. On the other, several media have raised the possibility of mediation between Israel and Hamas regarding the situation of the coronavirus and the prisoners on both sides.

According to Lebanese media, Israel is attempting to secure the return of two bodies of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the release of several civilians held by Hamas. 

The sources differ as to what Israel has offered in exchange for the return. According to Lebanese media Al-Akhbar, Israel would consider releasing several hundred Palestinians held for security reasons. On the other hand, Israeli media claim that what has been offered is greater health care to combat the coronavirus.

According to statements by Hamas representatives, the group is drawing up a list of people who are being detained by Israel and whose freedom it intends to demand through the release of the Israeli civilians it is holding.

The negotiations between the two parties through the Egyptian representatives have been going on for several months, and it is believed that this same delegation made another similar visit last September. 

In Hamas' view, Israel's proposals are far from balanced, and the possibility of reaching an agreement between the two parties remains in doubt.

The chairman of the defence and foreign affairs committee of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, expressed his displeasure at the news of the possible exchange. Zvi Hauser pointed out the consequences of the 2011 agreement under which the Israeli soldier, Guilad Shalit, was released in exchange for more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners.

According to several reports, many of these detainees who were released, would have returned to the armed struggle against Israel, something that Zvi Hauser considers as a possibility that could happen again. Also then the negotiation between Israelis and Palestinians was through an Egyptian delegation.