Egyptian sources say progress made in prisoner exchange deal, Israel and Hamas deny claim

Jerusalem, 18 November, 2018 (TPS) -- According to Egyptian sources, real progress has been made in talks between Israel and Hamas on a prisoner exchange deal for the release of Israeli citizens, Avraham Mengistu and Hisham a-Sayid, as well as for the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who are being held by the terrorist organization, diplomatic sources told the Khalij Online website on Saturday.

According to the sources, the German mediator, who held secret meetings in the region in recent weeks, succeeded in bringing about a breakthrough in the talks.

However, a senior Israeli official denied the report.

In addition, senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Haya claimed that “Israel is not prepared to carry out a new prisoner exchange deal from its own considerations, and Israel has not taken a single step toward a deal.”