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Itongadol.- Hamas and Israel may be on the verge of signing a deal that would see Israel release top Hamas officials and operatives arrested during Operation Brother\’s Keeper in exchange for the remains of fallen Israeli soldiers, according to a post on Hamas official Mushir al-Masri\’s Facebook page.
Masri was presumably referring to Golani Brigade Sgt. Oron Shaul and Givati Brigade Lt. Hadar Goldin, who were killed in Gaza this summer. Shaul is classified as a fallen soldier with an unknown grave.
Masri wrote on his Facebook page that "Hamas has bargaining chips that forced Israel to succumb to Palestinian demands.
"The indirect negotiations mediated by the Egyptians may in the future lead to a new prisoner swap deal in which many Palestinian prisoners are freed."
Masri also warned that the next conflict between Israel and the Palestinians will take place on Israeli soil, "On the outskirts of Ashkelon and in the Negev."
Following the Facebook post, Hamas officials confirmed to Israel Hayom that "there has been good progress and gaps between the two sides have narrowed significantly, but it is still too early to announce a deal."
A senior Hamas official in Gaza said, "Even though talks in Cairo won\’t take place until next month, work is being done on the ground, messages are constantly being sent between the sides by Egyptian negotiators, and gaps are closing. Still, it\’s early to say we are on the brink of signing a prisoner release deal."
The Palestinian official noted that the fact that negotiations are progressing well influenced Israel not to oppose the transfer of funds to pay the salaries of Hamas government workers. The payment is expected to go through on Tuesday, after months during which about 40,000 workers were not paid.
According to the official, the salaries total about $20 million, which will be transferred from an Arab country to the U.N. to ensure that the money is deposited in the workers\’ accounts.
Israel has not commented on the report of the emerging deal.