Hamas takes steps toward potential prisoner swap with Israel

Sources from Palestinian factions have revealed that Hamas has begun efforts to account for the number of Israeli prisoners in its custody, following the October 7, 2023, attack.

These efforts are part of a broader initiative to prepare for a potential prisoner exchange, as indirect negotiations with Israel have reportedly made significant progress, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Hamas leadership has reached out to other factions holding Israeli captives to gather information about the remaining live prisoners, with a particular focus on those held by its military wing. The group is also attempting to locate the bodies of prisoners killed during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. A ceasefire is considered essential for this effort, with Hamas confirming to Egyptian officials and other mediators that such a pause in hostilities would facilitate the retrieval of bodies still unaccounted for.

Sources close to Hamas indicated that the movement has spared the lives of Israeli military officers and soldiers captured from military sites. These prisoners are expected to be released in stages, with the first phase of the exchange focusing on Palestinian prisoners with high-level sentences, while humanitarian cases will be addressed in later stages.

Hamas is reportedly in consultations with Palestinian factions about a proposal discussed during a recent visit to Cairo. There is broad internal consensus on the need for a ceasefire and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Both sides are expected to respond to the Egyptian proposal, supported by the U.S., by mid-next week.

Israel, meanwhile, is holding security and political meetings to discuss the ongoing negotiations. A high-level Israeli delegation is expected to visit Cairo next week to continue talks about the prisoner exchange deal. There is cautious optimism that the two sides may be close to an agreement, as both have shown flexibility on previously contentious issues.

In recent days, Hamas released a video of Israeli-American prisoner Edan Alexander, urging U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene on his behalf. This led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to contact Alexander's family and express that talks for a deal could move forward soon. The Israeli army has also published investigations into the deaths of six Israeli prisoners killed by Hamas in Khan Younis, intensifying pressure for a political resolution.

With U.S. President-elect Trump signalling support for a deal, there are signs that both Hamas and Israel may be moving closer to reaching a comprehensive agreement.

By Vugar Khalilov