Hamas: Conditions for prisoner swap deal not bargaining chips

Hamas will not give up its conditions in projected prisoner swap deals with the Israeli occupation, Hamas leader Husam Badran said Wednesday. Speaking in a program aired by al-Aqsa TV Channel, Badran said contacts by foreign parties have been underway to initiate talks over a new prisoner swap deal.

“Israel has to meet all of our conditions and release all of the re-captured arrestees of the Wafa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal,” said Badran. Commenting on local elections, Badran reiterated Hamas’s wishes that the polls would boost national partnership and give rise to a promising future on the Palestinian socio-political scene.