Hamas officials on Tuesday demanded that their leaders open a debate on a potential prisoner exchange deal with Israel that has been rejected by the terrorist group's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
Hamas is believed to be holding the bodies of Israeli soldiers Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin, both killed in the 2014 conflict in the Gaza Strip. In addition, Ethiopian Israeli Avera Mengistu and Bedouin Hisham al-Sayed, both with mental health issues, crossed into Gaza voluntarily in 2014 and 2015 and are believed to have been captured by Hamas.
Haniyeh's decision to snub an Egyptian effort to broker a deal has reportedly caused a rift between him and Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar. News of the rift between the group's two strongmen, reported by Israel Hayom, has sparked controversy in the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Israel.
Egyptian media quoted a government official as saying, "Cairo is investing tremendous efforts to bring about a deal to return the bodies of the Israelis held by Hamas to burial in Israel, and it is committed to this effort."
In addition to a prisoner swap of unknown scope, the Egyptian offer includes the opening of the Gaza-Rafah border crossing with Egypt and an easing of the decadelong blockade on the coastal enclave.
A top Hamas official confirmed to Israel Hayom that senior members of the group's leadership, including Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades' commanders close to Sinwar, have demanded a debate on the Egyptian offer.
A statement by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said, "Coordinator for POWs and MIAs Yaron Blum and his team leave no stone unturned to secure the return of IDF soldiers and civilians held in Hamas captivity. Naturally, so as not to compromise any ongoing negotiations, we will not comment on Israel's extensive and complex efforts on this issue."
A statement by the Goldin family said that they were unaware of any progress in the negotiations.
"The Israeli government must stop being passive and naive with regard to the fate of captive IDF soldiers and civilians. The government must be proactive and pressure Hamas leadership and make it clear that holding IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians is a liability rather than an asset," the family said.
"[Benjamin] Netanyahu, as both prime minister and foreign minister, must act in the international arena to ensure that Hamas pays a price for blatantly violating international humanitarian law. After almost four years, this is the only way we know of to reverse the equation."
Oron's mother, Zehava, said, "Unfortunately, the world is always sympathetic when it comes to Gaza and Hamas. It is a shame that countries around the world do not have the integrity to show the same sympathy toward the Israeli prisoners, soldiers and civilians held captive by Hamas.
"At the end of the day, all I want is for the prisoners held in Gaza to come home. The government has so far failed to use any of the opportunities it had to bring the soldiers and civilians home, and that, too, is a shame."
The Mengistu family said that they, too, have not received any update on the negotiations.
"We do not comment on reports about Hamas in the media. We know that Hamas makes cynical use of them to wage a psychological war against the families. We expect the government and the international community to resolve this humanitarian tragedy without delay."
