Qassam: Israel pleading for prisoner swap deal with Hamas

Hamas’s armed wing—the al-Qassam Brigades—revealed Israeli proposals for a prisoner swap deal.

Quoted by al-Jazeera TV Channel, a senior leader from the al-Qassam Brigades said Hamas has recently received proposals put forth by regional and international broker-parties for a prisoner swap deal.

The Qassam commander said the deal does not live up to Hamas’s expectations.

He denied Israeli claims that a deal will be struck in exchange for trade concessions.

The Qassam commander added that such counterfeit news make part of “a psychological war” waged by Israel, saying Hamas will never accept attempts to turn the prisoners’ cause into a bargaining chip.

Meanwhile, the Qassam resistance brigades gave instructions to the department in charge of the well-being of the Israeli captives in Gaza to take into consideration the latest violations against the Palestinians in Israeli jails.

The remarks by al-Qassam were released just a few days after a senior Hamas delegation popped in Cairo, for the first such move since the Egyptian coup.

Last April, al-Qassam said four Israeli soldiers have been held captive by the brigades, refusing to give further details before a rewarding swap deal is struck with Israel.