Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is "optimistic" about the chance to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Israel, telling Arab media that the terrorist group ruling the Gaza Strip was ready to hold indirect negotiations on the matter.
Speaking with the Gaza-based Al-Araby TV on Friday, Haniyeh said, "If Israeli leaders are serious about reaching a prisoner exchange deal – then our decision would be to reach a deal."
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Haniyeh said that Hamas had been contacted by several mediators about facilitating such a prisoner swap.
Hamas holds the remains of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin were, who were killed in the Gaza Strip in separate battles during Operation Protective Edge 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.
"We have four prisoners and we are ready for indirect talks," Haniyeh said. "I'm optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the occupation in order to complete a prisoner exchange deal and achieve our goals."
He detailed a long list of demands that Israel must meet ahead of talks, among them the release of elderly and ailing prisoners, women and minors, as well as terrorists who were freed in the 2011 Schalit deal and later rearrested over terrorist activities.
Any deal with Israel will see Hamas "exact the required price," he stressed.
Haniyeh noted that the coronavirus crisis had created a "historic junction" to advance prisoner exchange negotiations.
"The coordination is by no means direct and is conducted through mediators such as Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations, which receive the demands on the issue and forward them to Israel," he said.
He further warned that despite the low number of coronavirus cases in Gaza, it is still facing a challenge on this issue.
The interview with Haniyeh aired hours after Hamas issued a statement saying that indirect talks for a prisoner swap were in the works.
"Our offer is still on the table. It is being made for humanitarian reasons, in light of the danger to the health of prisoners in jails during the coronavirus plague. The door is open to any mediator who can get Israel to provide a serious and practical response to this offer," the statement said.
