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The group also released a new video of Gilad Schalit, another Zionist soldier who was released through a prisoner swap several years ago.
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In a recording played in a program on program Al Jazeera, an Israeli hostage was heard saying: “I am an Israeli soldier captured by Izzuddin Al-Qassam.”
“I wish the State of Israel still existed. I wonder if the leaders of that country think about the captive soldiers. Are they worried about it and [memikirkan] his release? Everyday I [seperti] dead again. I hope to be back soon with my family. Please,” said the Israeli soldier’s voice without giving his identity as quoted Israel Hayom, Monday (7/6/2021).
The deputy commander of the Izzuddin Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, Marwan Issa, was interviewed for an investigative journalism program in Al Jazeera, Sunday. In the interview, which included audio recordings of captured Israeli soldiers, he said that Hamas aspires to kidnap other Israeli soldiers to “improve the outcome” of the prisoner swap deal.
Israeli officials looked at the report Al Jazeera as a sign Hamas understands that it will not gain much from negotiations that do not include the release of the dead Israeli soldiers and Israeli civilians currently detained.
Special negotiator for hostages and prisoners of war Yaron Blum said: “Hamas is in trouble following the heavy blow it received in Operation Wall Keeper and is here making efforts towards cheap and transparent manipulation.”
“Israel is well aware of the boy’s plight [tentara IDF yang meninggal] Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, may their memory be a blessing, as well as two [tawanan] civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who crossed the border. The State of Israel will continue to act with determination and responsibility to return the boys and civilians,” he said.
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On Sunday, Israel Hayom reported that Israeli officials believe it will be possible to reach a prisoner swap deal in the coming weeks or months. Officials are cautiously optimistic following the changes in Israeli policy adopted at the end of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in the Gaza Strip.
Within the framework of the new negotiations, Israel will adopt a “basic” humanitarian approach to Gaza’s reconstruction until a long-term ceasefire agreement that resolves the issue of captive Israeli civilians and dead soldiers is reached.
Also in the interview Al Jazeera, Issa revealed that the Al-Qassam commander, Mohammed Deif, had been injured in an assassination attempt by the Israeli military last month.
“We launched the campaign intelligently, and we moved around because we were given assassination attempts. Several commanders of the military council, among them Mohammed Deif, were injured,” he said.
Hamas also released new video footage of Gilad Schalit, who was captured by operatives in a cross-border raid in June 2006 and held in Gaza for more than five years. Schalit was released through a prisoner swap several years ago.
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