CAIRO (PIC)– Egyptian media sources said that there are serious efforts to reach an exchange deal between Egypt and Israel to get all Egyptian captives released in return for the Israeli spy Ilan Grapel.
Al-Ahram said on Sunday that the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel will not be the only exchange deal to be implemented in the next few days “but will be followed by another exchange between Egypt and Israel where Egypt will release Israel spy Ilan Garpel who also holds US citizenship in return for Israel releasing all Egyptian captives who number 81 including 3 children.”
The paper quoted Egyptian reliable sources that the negotiations between Egypt and Israel to reach an exchange deal are close to concluding.
Grapel was arrested in Cairo and accused of working for the Mossad inciting against the 15 January revolution and inciting sectarian strife.
The sources said the success of Egypt in brokering the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel as well as Israel’s official apology for the killing of 5 Egyptian soldiers have paved the way for concluding this expected deal.
According to the paper the Egyptians are serving sentences ranging from 2 years for infiltration to 20 years for attempted murder. There are three minors who were charged with trying to infiltrate into Israel and constituting a threat to Israeli national security this is despite the fact that they have not exceeded 14 years of age.
