Egypt reportedly promoting Hamas-Israeli prisoner swap deal
Egyptian intelligence has been in talks with Hamas and Israel with the intention of carrying out a prisoner swap between the two, the Lebanese Al Akhbar newspaper reported.
The Gaza terror group and Egypt have reached agreement regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in the deal, the report maintained, but Israel has vetoed it.
It was further reported Egypt was attempting to broker a more expansive deal between the parties, which will include a long-term "hudna" (armistice), a commitment by Hamas to halt tunnel excavation and a cooling of relations with Iran in return for removing the blockade from the strip, funnel finances back to Gaza and a freedom of movement for Hamas's leaders.
