Israel interested in prisoner swap deal, Israeli media claims

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel is interested in a prisoner swap deal with the Palestinian side and is willing to "pay the price," Israeli media claimed Friday evening, citing unidentified sources.

"We are interested in a broad hostage swap deal, and are ready to conclude it and pay the price," Israeli Channel 13 quoted an unnamed Israeli government source as saying.

"Israel is trying to reach a large deal for hostages,” said the sources.

However, the sources said, "The agreement has not been reached yet, and we are continuing talks at the same time as the fighting."

Another anonymous Israeli government official told the same channel, "There is no agreement. This (issue) has been talked about for several days and it is still ongoing.”

“We are trying to exhaust every opportunity to bring in the hostages back,” the media outlet quoted the source as saying.

Qatar and Egypt have been trying to mediate between Israel and Hamas in order to secure a prisoner swap deal and cease the continuing escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has already expressed its willingness to accept the arrangement, which includes all Israeli prisoners in Gaza in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, which number more than 7,500.

In previous statements issued by its officials, Hamas indicated its readiness to execute this agreement in phases but stressed that the deal would not be concluded under gunfire.

Families of Israeli prisoners are putting pressure on the Israeli government to reach an agreement that might include all prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas is believed to be holding at least 242 people following its cross-border attack into Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip – including hospitals, residences, and houses of worship – since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi