BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Jordanian newspaper ad-Dustour reported Tuesday that Hamas and Israel have been involved in secret talks in Israel and European capitals in recent months.
The newspaper quoted “western sources” as saying that among the most prominent issues being negotiated was the establishment of a “floating seaport” located between the Gaza Strip and Cyprus. The report said that both sides are also negotiating a deal to return the body of an Ethiopian Israeli soldier in exchange for Hamas-affiliated prisoners in Israeli custody.The report claimed that “negotiations have reached deeper issues such as borders.”Israel has reportedly offered to enlarge the Gaza Strip into Egypt’s northern Sinai peninsula, an idea which Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was in the past reported as proposing to the Palestinian Authority.The report suggested that the talks may have taken place under Turkish supervision.In April, senior Hamas official Ahmad Yousef denied that there had been any direct talks between Hamas and Israel, but acknowledged that there had been indirect “chats” with Israel under European mediation.Yousef told Ma’an: “We await the formation of an Israeli government so things can get more serious. European diplomats and civil society activists come to the Gaza Strip constantly and pose Israeli viewpoints and convey the reaction of the movement through unofficial chats.”Yousef added: “Hamas has a lot of important cards to play.”
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