Hamas to accept deportation 'if prisoners agree

Gaza delegation heads to Damascus for discussions with movement's leadership on possible prisoner swap with Israel.

Latest Update: 12.24.09, 11:37 / Israel News

A Hamas delegation is scheduled to leave the Gaza Strip to Damascus on Thursday in order to complete the discussions with the movement's leadership on a possible prisoner exchange deal, after receiving Israel's response to its latest offer from a German mediator on Wednesday.

After presenting a firm objection to Israel's demand to have some of the released prisoners deported, Hamas sources appear more flexible now, saying that if the prisoners themselves accept the deportation principle the deal could be finalized, as long as the deportation would be limited in time and the prisoners would eventually be allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank.

Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, says that the proposal is still being examined and that the Palestinian organization holding kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will relay their response to the German mediator in a few days.

Hamas is being pressured by Egypt to accept the deal. The organization has so far rejected the Israeli deportation demand, saying that the Israeli offer would not be accepted in its current form.

Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said that the deal was in very sensitive stages, but added that the organization continues to oppose the deportation principle. However, Lebanese daily al-Mustaqbal reported Wednesday that Hamas has agreed to the deportation of 123 prisoners.

'Deal delayed to prevent Hamas achievement'

Meanwhile Thursday, the London-based Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper quoted sources "close to Hamas" as saying that the organization wanted to complete the deal by December 27 – the anniversary of the Israeli operation in Gaza, but that Israel has decided to delay the deal in order to prevent a moral achievement for Hamas.

According to the sources, the Israeli government has formed its 'almost final' stands on the deal, but is now delaying its completion. The sources added that the Israeli cabinet's top seven ministers have agreed "to most of Hamas' demands."

The sources hinted that Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal would announce the deal's completion in a speech "to the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation" while marking the anniversary of the fighting in Gaza.

According to the sources, Hamas has already began wording the "victory declaration" on the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including some sentenced to life, after the organization managed "to break the Israeli habit of not releasing prisoners accused of killing Israelis, Jerusalem residents and prisoners from the 1949 territories (Israeli Arabs)."

According to the report, Israeli sources have said that the Jewish state needs a few more days to complete the deal.

Roee Nahmias contributed to this report

First Published: 12.24.09, 10:02

The fateful decision - Sgt. Gilad Schalit

A woman holds a banner depicting abducted Israeli soldier Sgt. Gilad Schalit during a protest on the Israel Gaza border.
Photo: AP [file]

A portentous decision on whether to trade Gilad Schalit - who has been in Hamas captivity for an excruciating 1,275 days - for a thousand imprisoned Arab terrorists is now being finalized. The raw anguish of Gilad's parents, Noam and Aviva, has been imprinted on the Israeli consciousness since their son fell into enemy hands on June 25, 2006.

Our hearts tell us to pay Hamas's price.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his top ministers, however, have the terrifying responsibility of acting with both their hearts and minds. Their deliberations cut to the essence of what it means to be Israeli.

Israelis do not want a second Ron Arad affair; Gilad is now so close to freedom, he's virtually touchable. For him to slip away now would be devastating.