The Occupation’s Propositions for the Prisoners’ Swap Deal

Dec 19, 2020 07:11 am

Early this week, the Israeli media reported real developments in the new prisoners’ swap deal between Hamas and the Israeli occupation. According to journalist David Ben Alon, from Channel 13, Egypt had invited a delegation from Hamas and the occupation to visit Cairo and discuss the new propositions of the occupation. He also said that the propositions do not constitute a huge move.

Some press sources said that the propositions meet the conditions of the resistance, which wants the release of high-profile prisoners who were involved in operations and the release of the largest number of prisoners in exchange for the captured Israeli soldiers. The occupation’s response overlooked the recommendations of Shamgar Commission which had recommended the release of one for one provided that the released had not killed any Israelis.

Two of the most major setbacks in the current propositions are the occupation’s desire to classify the captured prisoners in Gaza into civilians and military, and its refusal to conclude the deal at two stages; the first in which the intel is released and then the actual release – both having separate prices.

As the Israeli entity continues its stubbornness, Hamas immediately announced that the propositions do not meet the least of the resistance’ demands, and considered them an attempt by Netanyahu to expand his popularity in any coming electoral campaign and to manipulate the feelings of the families of the captured soldiers.

Analysis

  • The Israeli occupation continues to stall the prisoners’ issue through giving propositions and conditions that ensure the release of its soldiers in exchange for a small price.
  • The occupation tries to link any agreement made with Gaza or aids sent to it with the captured soldiers file. Some of its officials even threatened not to allow the vaccine into Gaza nor loosen the siege until the captured soldiers are released.
  • The resistance insists on its position demanding immediate response to its just demands and the release of prisoners with long and lifetime sentences, and those involved in resistance work according to a list it makes.

Possible Scenarios

  1. The occupation continues to stall and uses the captured prisoners as a tool to achieve political gains without exerting any efforts that make up a real deal. 
  2. The occupation would have to start dealing seriously with the issue of its captured soldiers due to internal pressure exercised by the soldiers’ families and to achieve some of its leaders’ political gains.
  3. The occupation gives the resistance a reasonable deal that meets the resistance’ main demands conforming to the guidelines of any swap deal it would conclude.

It is clear that the occupation is using the prisoners’ issue as a political winning card in the Israeli political arena without truly wanting to make any developments that meet the aspirations of the resistance. Everything that has been proposed until this moment does not level up to being real efforts that could lead to a real swap deal.

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