Hamas terrorists vows no release of Israeli captives without real prisoners swap deal

A senior Hamas official said on Monday that the Israelis who have been held in captivity in the Gaza Strip since 2014 won’t be released until “a real prisoners’ swap deal” is reached.

“A real prisoners’ exchange deal is the best way for the release of the captive Israelis” held by Hamas, Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, told Xinhua.

“Otherwise, the Zionist leadership (Israel) will be just selling illusions to the Israeli public,” said Qassem, referring to the new Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s remarks to the families of the Israeli captives.

Earlier in the day, Gantz met with the families of four Israelis, two soldiers and two civilians who are believed to have been held by Hamas militants since 2014.

In October 2011, Egypt brokered a prisoners’ swap deal between Israel and Hamas, where Israel handed over 1,028 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit who was abducted in southern Gaza in 2006.

Source: Xinhua Net