Israel and Hamas are closer than ever to reaching a long-term ceasefire deal that would include a prisoner swap, the London-based website Rai al-Youm reported on Saturday.
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Citing Egyptian sources, the report said that Cairo has "accomplished many points related to the prisoner swap deal, which may be announced within a few weeks.
This progress is said to include "official and clear guarantees from Hamas and Israel that comply with the broad outlines of the deal.
"There are understandings on many points, and Cairo has completed more than 70% of the deal. The rest may be related to the details of time, place, guarantees, and other logistical matters," the report said.
Hamas is holding the remains of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin, who were killed in the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014. The terrorist group is also holding Ethiopian Israeli Avera Mengistu and Bedouin Israeli Hisham al-Sayed, both suffering from mental health issues, who crossed into Gaza willingly in 2014 and 2015 and were captured by the terrorist group.
Last week, Hamas said that the issue of a prisoner exchange deal remains a top priority, noting that it will not rest until all of its operatives are released from Israeli prisons.
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"The discussions that are taking place are very secretive and in the hands of the [Izzadin] al-Qassam Brigades. Important developments have taken place," Hassan Yousef, a senior Hamas official in the West Bank told Rai al-Youm, referring to the group's military wing.
In exchange for the return of the four Israelis' Hamas has demanded the release of all prisoners who were freed as part of 2011 prisoner swap with Israel but were subsequently rearrested.
They also stipulated the release of all women and minors, as well as prisoners in poor health.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
