Israel is open to negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas by which security prisoners would be released in exchange for the Gaza Strip's rulers releasing the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in Operation Protective Edge in 2014, the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday.
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Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin were killed in the Gaza Strip in separate battles in the Gaza conflict that took place in the summer of 2014. Ethiopian Israeli Avera Mengistu and Bedouin Israeli Hisham al-Sayed, both suffering from mental health issues, crossed into Gaza willingly in 2014 and 2015 and were captured by Hamas.
According to the PMO, Israel's Coordinator for Captives and MIAs Yair Bloom and the National Security Council were ready for "constructive action" on the matter and called for talks on the matter to proceed via mediators,
On Friday, Hamas military leader Yahya Sinwar said the group would be willing "to make partial concessions" that would enable negotiations on a prisoner swap to take place regardless of the coronavirus crisis.
Hamas seeks the release of elderly and female Palestinian prisoners "as a humanitarian gesture" amid the pandemic, he said.
Also on Tuesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu, by video conference, held a toast with the heads of the security establishment.
Participating in the video conference were IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, Shin Bet security agency Director Nadav Argaman and the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Brig.-Gen. Avi Bluth.
"Together we will continue to watch over our state and over the security of Israel. Happy holiday!" Netanyahu said.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
