Haniyeh: Ending Gaza siege to be reached soon

Deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau Ismael Haniyeh declared Friday that his group will soon achieve its aims mainly ending Gaza siege and activate its reconstruction.

We approach our aims of ending Gaza siege, activating its reconstruction, and establishing a sea port, Haniyeh said during Eid prayers.

Israeli media report earlier revealed that indirect negotiations are carrying out between Hamas and Israel over reaching a long-term ceasefire in return of lifting the siege on Gaza.

He also pointed out during the sermon that a prison exchange deal will be reached soon.

Haniyeh stressed during the sermon that his movement will not take part of any talks over exchange deal before the release of 54 ex-prisoners kidnapped last summer by Israel after their release during Shalit swap deal in 2011.

On October 2011, nearly 1027 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails in exchange of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured by Hamas in 2006.

54 of those released prisoners were re-arrested last summer following the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli soldiers in June.

Head of Hamas’s political bureau Khaled Mishaal earlier said that Israel approached his Movement through a European intermediary to negotiate the release of Israeli soldiers captured by Hamas during the summer aggression on Gaza.