For years, “the Israeli soldier” managed to mislead the world into thinking it is an unstoppable phantom, one that cannot be killed nor captured. However, the Palestinian resistance fighters completely debunked this myth. The ‘Israeli soldier’ was now killed and captured. In any case, a prisoner swap deal with the occupation was impossible, but that changed in Wafaa Al-Ahrar Deal (Shalit Prisoner Swap Deal) in 2011, which was the most effective and powerful in a long time.

The 2014 Al-Asf Al-Ma’kul War conceals a lot of secret intel that is disclosed every now and then, and is deemed as ‘war secrets’ to the occupation. One of the most important secrets, which strongly deterred the occupation’s ground invasion of the Strip, was the capture of a number of Israeli soldiers and hiding them away from cameras, and advanced wires.

 “Oron Shaul” was the person to change the course of the battle and to force the occupation forces to implement its back-up plan before its primary plan. The capture of this soldier ignited positive energy among the Palestinian people who were suffering severely from the Israeli heavy military machinery. The Palestinian resistance, mainly Al-Qassam Brigades, captured the soldier after targeting his artillery, which was advancing towards Al-Shujaiyya in the ground invasion.

Al-Qassam Brigades’ Spokesperson announced the capture of the soldier on the second day of Eid Al-Fitr while the war on the Strip was still going. His announcement was the first of its type in ages which was also a disappointment to the occupation’s leadership. A little later, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, announced that Shaul was among the missing dead soldiers.

Al-Qassam did not confirm Netanyahu’s claims. Instead, it displayed several videos that refuted his words without offering any information on Shaul’s medical condition. This turned the public opinion against Netanyahu. Everything, however, remained the same until the Coronavirus spread worldwide and currently threatens the lives of the Palestinian prisoners in the occupation’s jails after their jailors and investigators were infected with the deadly virus.

Yahya Al-Sinwar, Hamas’ Leader in the Gaza Strip and freed prisoner in the Shalit Prisoner Swap deal, recently stated his Movement’s willingness to provide intel on the captured prisoners (Shaul Eron, Hadar Goldin, Hisham Al-Sayid and Abraham Mengistu) in exchange for the release of the prisoner elderlies, children and women.

On media, Netanyahu hid his interest, but he soon contacted the Egyptian intelligence for a swap deal under its conditions. However, the Palestinian resistance insists on having a deal under its conditions similar to what happened in the Shalit Prisoner Swap Deal.

There still is a possibility for a swap deal and Netanyahu is trying to make use of it. However, he will not be able to go forward with it without following the conditions of the Palestinian resistance, which has not disclosed them yet. It is definite that the deal will include the release of the Movement’s leaders in prison: Hassan Salama, Abbas Al-Sayyid, Abdullah Al-Barghouthi, Marwan Al-Barghouthi, Ibrahim Hamed and Ahmed Sa’dat.

Although it is unlikely for the Deal to happen these days because of the current political crisis in the occupation’s entity, it will go down a better road and will be carried out during Netanyahu’s rule as a Prime Minister.

As for Gantz, it is possible that he would carry out the Deal under the resistance’ conditions because he feels responsible for the captured prisoners who were taken during his term as the Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces in 2014.

Gantz’ implementation of a swap deal would improve his political and military record, which would make him more aspiring to stay in rule as a prime minister. He will not, however, do it if Netanyahu has the intention to. Netanyahu will be serving as Prime Minister first which means Gantz will have to follow orders.

Should a deal be agreed on, the resistance will not make any concessions. It will force the Israeli occupation to accept its conditions, and Netanyahu will accept in order to continue to have a political life after his term as Prime Minister ends. 

Netanyahu wants to make this deal for several reasons; the most important of which is to close the file of the captured prisoners who come from well-known families who can turn the public opinion against him and his government, which he will form in partnership with the Kahol Lavan Alliance. This comes at a time when Al-Qassam has recently threatened the occupation that this could be their last chance for making a deal. 

If the deal is not made, the fate of the captured by Al-Qassam could be the same as the fate of Ron Arad. Netanyahu wants to make a political and military move that could mobilize the Israelis towards supporting him and demanding the closure of the bribery and corruption cases.

The question, now, is, “Will Netanyahu accept the release of the high-profile prisoners we mentioned earlier? Or will he try to replace them?” Of course he will try to replace them with less-important prisoners. However, he will not be able to because the person he is up against today is a ‘liberated prisoner’ who was released in the 2011 Prisoner Swap.

Furthermore, Netanyahu will not be able to maintain the situation the same with the soldiers imprisoned by Hamas for more than 6 years without knowing whether they are alive or dead; whether they are handicapped or psychologically affected. All these fears are concerning to Netanyahu as this will affect the public opinion and the Israeli soldiers’ ability to carry out any operation against Gaza; land invasion more than any other.