Moussa Dudin, Hamas political bureau member in charge of the prisoners’ file, told Palinfo on Dec. 4 that Egypt, Gemany, Qatar,  Sweden and Turkey along with an unnamed sixth country are working to conclude a prisoner exchange deal between the movement and Israel.

Hamas holds the remains of two Israeli soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, captured during the 2014 war. The group is also holding Hisham al-Sayed, an Israeli Arab, and Avera Avraham Mengistu, an Ethiopian Jew, both of whom entered Gaza voluntarily in 2014. Among Palestinian prisoners of particular interest to Hamas are dozens whom Israel had previously released in a 2011 swap but then later rearrested.

On Nov. 3, Yaron Blum, Israel's coordinator for efforts to reach a swap deal, said in a radio interview with Kan that several channels were working on an exchange through indirect negotiations with Hamas. Talk of a possible swap has increased in light of the troubles Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces after twice failing to form a new government and being indicted on corruption-related charges. A prisoner deal would be a welcome boost for him.

Dudin told Al-Monitor, “Many parties approached us in order to conclude the deal [after] we had presented them with written demands. … Instead of looking into intelligence means to retrieve the bodies of Israeli soldiers, Netanyahu ought to conclude a new deal like the previous one if he wishes to alter his domestic situation.” Hamas is thought to be seeking the release of hundreds of high-ranking prisoners as part of a deal.