Hamas is ready to release all its Israeli soldiers in detention in exchange for all Palestinians held in Israel, a senior Hamas leader said on November 29, as talks with Israel to extend a fighting ceasefire continue.

Bassem Naim, a former head of health in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, told a news conference in Cape Town, South Africa, during a visit that “tough negotiations” were underway to extend the six-day pause in fighting, which expires in the early hours of the 30th, and that “we are ready to release all (Israeli) soldiers in exchange for all the Palestinians in prison.”

Hamas abducted about 240 people in a surprise attack in southern Israel on the 7th of last month.

As part of the ceasefire agreement, 60 Israeli hostages and 180 Palestinians who had been imprisoned were released.

The hostages currently being held by Hamas include soldiers who were excluded from the hostage exchange, and it is highly likely that these soldiers will be used as important negotiating chips in the future.

Human rights groups say there are more than 7,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, many of them high-profile figures, outnumbering the young men and women who have been released so far.

Hamas last month demanded that Israel release all its Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of all hostages.

A Hamas source said the group wanted the fighting halt extended for another four days and was prepared to release more Israeli hostages. (c)AFP