Israel has relayed a message to Hamas by which it is willing to make "goodwill gestures" that will advance a prisoner swap, Egyptian officials privy to the indirect negotiations told Arab daily Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
According to Sunday's report in the London-based newspaper, Israeli officials have asked the Egyptian mediator to tell Hamas that once Israel will get more information on the state of the captives held by Gaza's rulers, it would be willing to make certain gestures, including releasing security prisoners who are elderly or ailing.
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The terrorist group that controls the coastal enclave is believed to be holding the remains of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin, killed in Gaza in separate battles during Operation Protective Edge in 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.
Hamas military leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar recently told Palestinian media that the group was willing to continue with the talks for a potential prisoner exchange.
The report noted that Israeli officials expressed concern that going through with such gestures would prompt Hamas and the other terrorist factions in Gaza to extort Israel on other issues.
One source told the Arabic daily that Israel would prefer to stretch any gestures across a period of several months, to ensure the Gaza factions do not provoke hostilities at a time when both Israel and Gaza have to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Cairo is said to have apprised both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad of Israel's offer.
According to the report, Egyptian intelligence officials warned the Islamic Jihad against undermining Cairo's efforts to ease the blockade placed of the Gaza Strip. They also warned the Iranian-backed terrorist group against actions that would "drag the entire region into a campaign that does not consider the consequences of the sensitive situation" the Middle East must deal with in the wake o the global pandemic.
