Hamas Denies Reports of Qatar Mediating Prisoner Swap with Israel

Rasa - An official with the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas denied reports that Qatar is mediating a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel.

News ID: 426492

Date: 12 January 2017 - 20:45

RNA - In an interview with Palestine’s Safa news agency, Salah Bardwil dismissed reports of Doha’s mediation for an exchange of prisoners, including Israeli military forces held by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades -the military wing of Hamas.

His comment came after Israeli sources quoted the Arab-Israeli newspaper Kul al-Arab as reporting that Qatar is mediating between Israel and Hamas in a potential prisoner exchange deal that would include handing over the bodies of Israeli soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who were killed in summer 2014.

The sources also claimed that Hamas has set conditions for the exchange talks, namely the release of 60 prisoners who were released in the Gilad Schalit deal, but were arrested again later by Israel at various stages following its implementation.

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