Head of the Hamas Movement in Gaza Yahya Sinwar has said that several Arab and foreign parties offered mediation lately to broker a new prisoner swap deal with Israel.
Sinwar told journalists in his office on Monday that Israel must release 54 detainees who were rejailed after they were freed in the 2011 swap deal as a necessary condition before engaging in indirect talks over a new one.
He reiterated his Movement’s pledge to extract the freedom of all prisoners in honorable exchange deals and accused Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of selling illusions to the families of Israeli soldiers being held captive in Gaza.
In another context the Hamas official said that his Movement is not afraid of another war with the Israeli occupation but affirmed that it does not seek a new confrontation.
“Hamas has built up a respectful military force and will continue its preparations in order to serve the national project” he added.
He also highlighted the relations with Egypt saying that his Movement has channels of communication with Cairo.
He affirmed that his Movement’s relations with Egypt saw a major breakthrough recently adding that the Egyptian authorities pledged to open the Rafah border crossing frequently during the coming period for the movement of individuals and goods.
