Qatar seeks 'urgent prisoner swap' deal between Hamas and Israel

Qatar is leading significant mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel for an urgent prisoner swap deal between the two parties, according to a Palestinian security source on Monday, 9 October. 

Speaking to The New Arab under the condition of anonymity, the source, who is close to Hamas, said, "Qatar suggested implementing an urgent swap agreement between Hamas and Israel that aims at releasing elderly women captured by Hamas in exchange for releasing all Palestinian women from Israeli jails."

"Qatar has good relationships with Hamas and Israel. It would be able to succeed in its meditation efforts," the source remarked. 

In principle, according to the source, Hamas expressed approval of Qatar's proposal under the condition that all Palestinian female prisoners be released from Israeli jails. 

However, according to the source, Israel is still mulling over the proposal, adding, "The upcoming hours would carry the Israeli response." 

Israeli sources reported at least 300 missing Israelis since the start of the current round of fighting between Hamas and Israel.

On Saturday morning, Hamas launched its sudden and unprecedented military operation on Israel, launching thousands of rockets at Israeli cities.

At the same time, about 1,000 of its fighters and other armed factions stormed into Israeli towns in 1948 territories near the Gaza Strip, killing at least 700 Israelis and capturing several. 

In a televised statement on Sunday, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of Hamas, said that "the Palestinian resistance captured a number of the Israelis, and the number is higher than what was declared by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister." 

Netanyahu, on his part, claimed that about 170 Israelis were kidnapped by Hamas, and he is carrying out a war against Hamas to return the Israeli "hostages." 

Moreover, he appointed Reserve General Gal Hirsch responsible for the issue of prisoners and missing persons.