Contacts for a deal? “Hamas feels that Israel is not serious”

Simcha and Leah Goldin in the Order of the Citrus, today (Photo: Roy Idan)

There is a feeling among the Hamas leadership that Israel does not transmit a degree of seriousness to the organization’s signals about its willingness to flex its positions
To create the possibility of a partial prisoner exchange transaction. Thus, Ynet says two senior non-Israeli sources are involved in the picture of the negotiations.

The same sources said that at present, the exchange of messages between Hamas and Israel has been done only through the media and not through indirect negotiations. In recent weeks, Hamas has signaled in several instances its willingness to hold a partial prisoner deal due to humanitarian circumstances in light of the Corona crisis.

Hamas leader Gaza Sinhwar

Hamas wants the release of adult prisoners and women prisoners in exchange for information about the fate of the prisoners and missing persons in the Gaza Strip, or for the release of at least one of the two Israeli civilians held by the organization for years – Abra Mengistu and Hisham a-Syed, who crossed the fence and entered the Gaza Strip.

Israel, for its part, signaled it through a media message
That the prisoner and missing coordinator in the Prime Minister’s Office, Yaron Blum, and the National Security Council are ready to discuss through prisoners’ brokers. “There is a window of opportunity and Hamas feels that Israel is not taking it seriously,” one of the sources told Ynet.

The second factor presented an interesting assessment that Hamas is in fact angry at the issue of prisoners and missing persons and that the organization is frustrated that despite all their attempts to raise the issue – the Israeli public shows no interest in it and does not put pressure on the Israeli leadership to hold a prisoner deal. The factor estimated that the continued smoldering of time and the lack of progress would force Hamas to reduce the demands and conditions it places on formulating a prisoner exchange deal.

Earlier this week, Al Quds newspaper reported
According to sources in the organization, Hamas is holding internal discussions on entering indirect negotiations with Israel on the issue of prisoners and missing persons following the proposal of the organization’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar and the response of the Prime Minister’s Office. The discussions also include the leadership of the military arm of the organization and the conditions for such negotiations are defined – if any.

Oron Saul, Hadar Goldin, Hisham a-Sayyid and Abra Mengistu. The families are waiting

The sources stated that Egyptian intelligence expressed its willingness to mediate between the parties to conclude a deal, and that Egyptian intelligence officials updated it with Brigadier General Meir Ben Shabbat and Hamas leadership. Among the options Hamas is considering is the release of one or two civilians Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip – Abra Mengistu and Hisham a-Sayed or provide information on the fate of Hadar Goldin and Oron Saul.

Yesterday, a Hamas official in Gaza, Mahmoud a-Zahar, said the organization’s leadership is examining Israel’s seriousness about a new prisoner exchange deal. He said: “Hamas has defined the relevant prisoners, its priorities and conditions. Hamas wants a balanced deal, that Israel will not profit at the expense of the Palestinian prisoners.”

Simcha Goldin, Hadar Goldin’s father, took part in the weekly “Order of the Citrus” event at the Black Arrow Memorial in the Gaza Strip. The event, which was held for the 103rd time, and was broadcast in zoom to hundreds of attendees. “Alongside any assistance from the health system to Gaza, it must not be forgotten that it is the duty of the State of Israel to bring the boys home,” Goldin said. “The Feast of Liberty is an opportunity to prove to all the people of Israel that we do not abandon our soldiers and civilians.”

The Goldin family at the “Citrus Order” event in a black arrow monument in the Gaza Strip(Photo: Roy Idan)

Leah Goldin added: “Don’t let our enemies run us. Hamas needs the State of Israel now, it’s time to turn on all the relevant levers and bring the boys back. I don’t know if what we’re hearing these days is real or spins. I’ll know the day the boys are here.” .