Goldin, Shaul and Mengistu
Report: Israel-Hamas deal stuck over Israeli demand for video proof
Lebanese newspaper reports minor progress in indirect talks mediated by Egypt, with Cairo putting 'new proposals' on the table; Israel reportedly willing to release female prisoners, minors and Palestinian parliamentarians under administrative detention in return for video proving Israeli citizens are alive.
A possible deal
between Israel and Hamas to return three Israeli citizens and the bodies of two IDF soldiers being held in Gaza is reportedly stuck over an Israeli demand to get a video proving Abera Mengistu,
Hisham al-Sayed and Jumaa Ibrahim Abu-Ghanima
are alive, Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar reported Wednesday.
In return to such a video, Israel is reportedly willing to release several female prisoners, minors and Palestinian parliamentarians under administrative detention.
Hamas has rejected the Israeli demand, pushing instead for the release of 55 prisoners previously released in the 2011 Shalit deal and arrested anew after returning to terror activity. Israel opposes this demand.
Goldin, Shaul and Mengistu
Furthermore, in addition to information about the soldiers' bodies, Hamas has demanded Israel to release the Palestinians arrested during the current ongoing round of violence.
Nevertheless, the paper reported some progress in the indirect talks mediated by Egypt, with inside sources saying "new proposals" were raised by Cairo during negotiations.
Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that "our commitment to return Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin home remains valid and true."
Speaking at a ceremony marking three years to Operation Protective Edge, in which the two soldiers were killed, the prime minister added that "we are not giving up on this holy mission until it is completed successfully. This is true concerning Abera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, citizens being held in the Gaza Strip by a cruel enemy."
