BICOM

Hamas has demanded that Israel release security prisoners as a precondition for even discussing the fate of two Israeli MIAs, according to Israel Radio’s Gal Berger.

The two soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, are thought to have been killed during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in summer 2014. Hamas is believed to be holding their remains.

Gal Berger cited a Hamas source that Hamas made the release of 56 prisoners a precondition to discussing the fates of the two soldiers. The 56 were previously among the 1027 prisoners released by Israel in the 2011 deal to free captured solider Gilad Shalit, but have been re-arrested after they returned to terror activities. Israel is though unwilling to release security prisoners as a mere precondition to substantive talks.

The IDF Southern Command briefed the Israeli media yesterday on Hamas’ rearmament in Gaza. According to the briefing, Hamas is developing new rockets while rebuilding its stock.  Hamas is focusing on increasing the number of Special Forces and naval commandos, trained to conduct raids into Israel, to 5000 men.

However, the IDF assessment remains that Hamas does not currently want an escalation with Israel and is working to maintain calm, arresting other terror groups that fire rockets. Israel Radio’s Hamas source agrees with this assessment, noting that the Hamas military wing has been brought under the control of its Gaza-based political leadership and will not unilaterally launch attacks against Israel, as was reportedly the case in 2014. This is further backed up by statistics in Yediot Ahronot, which shows that attacks in to Israel from Gaza are at their lowest level in 16 years.

The IDF briefing did note that while Hamas in Gaza is not seeking an escalation, in the West Bank Hamas is still trying to carry out terror attacks against Israel.