Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yehya al-Sinwar, reaffirmed on Monday the existence of a "good opportunity" to advance the prisoner exchange issue between the movement and Israel, clarifying that Hamas rejects linking this file to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. In response to a question from Agence France-Presse about the progress towards a prisoner exchange deal, al-Sinwar stated, "Right now, there is a real opportunity in this file, and we are ready for urgent, indirect negotiations to finalize the matter." He added, "We have a good chance to move this file forward."
Hamas is holding four Israelis, including two soldiers, whom the Israeli state claims were killed during the 2014 war, but Hamas has not revealed any details regarding their fate. Earlier on Monday, al-Sinwar met with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel to discuss stabilizing the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians. Al-Sinwar indicated that he informed Kamel during his meeting with Hamas leaders that "any conditions regarding the prisoner exchange are rejected." He emphasized, "The prisoners we have are an independent humanitarian issue. Prisoners for prisoners, and the issue of prisoners has no relation to the reconstruction of Gaza or breaking the blockade."
According to al-Sinwar, "There is no objection to both paths proceeding simultaneously. Any linkage between them is strictly rejected." A Hamas official, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed earlier that the discussions with Kamel would address "three issues: stabilizing the ceasefire leading to a long-term truce, the prisoner exchange file between Hamas and the occupation, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip." Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement on May 20, which went into effect on the early morning of May 21, following escalations that resulted in 258 Palestinian fatalities, including 66 children and fighters, according to the health ministry in the Gaza Strip. On the Israeli side, 12 people lost their lives, including a child and an Arab girl, as confirmed by emergency and ambulance services.
