The Al Jareeda Kuwaiti newspaper reported that countdown for prisoners swap has already started as the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, is already in Egypt accompanied by the head of the Al Qassam Brigades of Hamas.
The Al Jareeda Kuwaiti newspaper reported that countdown for prisoners swap has already started as the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, is already in Egypt accompanied by the head of the Al Qassam Brigades of Hamas.
The paper claims that Shalit was moved to Egypt several days ago and is being kept in a confidential place guarded by senior Egyptian security men.
The paper reported that Shalit was first moved to Egypt accompanied by Hamas political leader, Mahmoud Zahhar, who recently went to Egypt and the details of his trip were kept away from the media.
According to the paper, Zahar and Shalit did not travel through the ordinary route of the Terminal and an Egyptian vehicle was waiting for them at the Egyptian side of Rafah.
The paper also said that after waiting with Egyptian security officials for an hour, Zahhar was seen sitting in the front seat of a tinted tourist vehicle and that a wheelchair was seen on top of the vehicle.
Senior Egyptian security sources said that handing Shalit to Egypt is meant to ensure the seriousness of prisoner-swap talks, and that holding Shalit in Egypt could motivate Israel to advance towards a final prisoner-swap deal.
Israeli sources reported that even if a deal is reached with Hamas in the coming days, Israel will still have to ensure a cabinet vote, and will need to gather the detainees who would be freed, in addition to publishing the list of detainees 48 hours before the deal is implemented to allow petitions to be filed to the High Court of Justice.
Israel is still rejecting to release a number of prisoners named by Hamas, as they are considered important figures of symbols of the Palestinian struggle.
Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported that Hamas apparently realized that it is difficult to convince Israel to release senior Hamas figures.
Haaretz added that Israel has been waiting for an official response from Hamas on a proposal made by the German mediator. Hamas reportedly will respond in the coming days.
The German mediator previously held separate meetings with Hamas and Israeli leaders.
Several Arab media sources reported that Hamas presented a number of
conditions to the swap-deal which received an initial Israeli approval.
Israel believes that Hamas will now focus on the release of Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi, and Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmad Saadat.
The Hamas movement denied the reports and said that such rumors aim at affecting the indirect talks and also aim at practicing pressure on the families of the detainees.
The family and supporters of a Shalit deal said that if there are no serious developments this coming week they will resume their meeting with senior Israeli official and cabinet members to ensure the approval of the deal.
Israeli sources reported that hundreds of detainees were told to pack and get ready to be released.
