BICOM

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman yesterday denied reports that Israel and Hamas had agreed a deal to exchange missing Israelis for Hamas prisoners.

Lieberman said Israel has no contact with Hamas and there is no breakthrough, but did acknowledge that there was “an ongoing effort to release our soldiers and civilians held in Hamas captivity”.

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that Israel and Hamas had reached a breakthrough and Israel could free Hamas prisoners in exchange for information about Israelis missing in the Gaza Strip.

Three Israeli civilians, all believed to have mental health issues, are thought to be held by Hamas. Avraham Abera Mengistu is an Israeli Jew of Ethiopian descent and Hisham al-Sayed and Juma Ibrahim Abu Ghanima are Israeli Muslim Bedouins. Israel is also seeking the return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who were killed in Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

Israel agreed a deal with Hamas in 2011 and exchanged 1000 Palestinian prisoners to secure the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas and held prisoner for five years. Prisoner swaps are controversial in Israel and the subject of intense public debate. Families of missing soldiers campaign vocally in favour, but terrorist attacks committed by released prisoners have made politicians more cautious about supporting such deals.

The issue also complicates the Israeli dilemma over steps to ease the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, with family members arguing vocally in the media that pressure should be maintained on Hamas until their loved-ones are returned. Education Minister Naftali Bennett spoke out yesterday against releasing “live terrorists for the bodies of our soldiers”.

In related news, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas met yesterday in Cairo to discuss Egypt’s reported deal with Hamas. PA sources said that Abbas sought details about a rumoured agreement with exiled Fatah politician Muhammad Dahlan, Hamas and Egypt that could involve Dahlan being appointed to a new political role in Gaza.