The Palestinian movement Hamas has expressed its willingness to negotiate a prisoner exchange deal with Israel similar to the agreement in 2011, which led to the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. A member of the organization's leadership, Osama Hamdan, conveyed this information in an interview with Al Mayadeen.
"The Israeli occupation regime has various options, with the most viable being a prisoner exchange, similar to the conditions when soldier Gilad Shalit was released," - he stated. - "Otherwise, its soldiers will either be killed by shelling or face the fate of pilot Ron Arad."
Gilad Shalit was released on October 18, 2011, after being held captive by Hamas for more than five years. In exchange for his release, Israeli authorities released 1,027 Palestinians from prisons, with an additional 550 released on December 18 of the same year. Israeli Air Force Lt. Col. Ron Arad, captured in 1986 in Lebanon after his plane crashed near Saida, remains missing to this day.
"Our stance remains firm: discussions regarding a prisoner exchange are off the table until the aggression ceases and troops withdraw from the Gaza Strip," - Hamdan emphasized. - "We are aware of the discontent on the Israeli streets, fueled by [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's failure to secure the release of the prisoners, which has intensified following the killing of three of them by Israeli soldiers' bullets."
He highlighted that Hamas "has maintained its resilience for many months." "Israel has yet to achieve any of its invasion objectives," he emphasized.
As of now, 126 Israelis and 11 foreigners are still held by Hamas, while 110 abductees were previously released as part of a humanitarian truce. On December 17, Reuters, citing sources in Egyptian security agencies, reported that Israel and Hamas are prepared to negotiate a new truce, but disagreements between the parties over the details of a future deal are hindering progress.
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Based on materials from TASS