A document classified as “top secret”, which was first revealed today (Tuesday) in the evening news on “Here” 11, reveals that a few days after the round of fighting that broke out between Israel and Hamas in August 2018, there was a dramatic meeting of defense officials on prisoners and missing persons. This was, as far as is known, the closest opportunity since Operation Eitan to date to advance a captive deal with Hamas.
The participants in the discussion were Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman, Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Heiman, Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, POW and missing persons coordinator Yaron Blum and Chief of Staff Gadi Izenkot. Exchange of prisoners, who will return home at reasonable prices the two IDF casualties Lt. Hadar Goldin and Sgt.
The title of the secret document was “The Initiative of the Heads of the Security Bodies and the Coordinator of Prisoners and Missing Persons for the Return of Prisoners and Missing Persons from the Gaza Strip,” in which they presented an orderly plan for concluding a deal.
According to the plan formulated in the discussion, the first phase included a mutual ceasefire and the cessation of civil sanctions by Israel, including the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing and the expansion of the fishing area in Gaza. The continuation of the plan included expanding electricity to the Gaza Strip and solving the salary problem with Qatari funding. The next step concerned the transaction itself. Israel will release Hamas prisoners, including those arrested during Operation Resilient Cliff, with the exception of those who engaged in significant terrorist activity.
One of the clauses stated that terrorists with blood on their hands would not be released. In return, Hamas will release the four prisoners and missing persons. The third phase of the program dealt with the promotion of civilian and economic measures to rehabilitate the Gaza Strip. The signed document explicitly states that “postponing the POW and missing persons transaction and separating it from the settlement process may lead to the removal of the solution for returning the prisoners and missing persons years ahead.”
In a discussion that took place in Netanyahu’s presence, the plan was presented, but no decisions were made. According to a source involved in formulating the plan, Netanyahu summed up the discussion and pledged to make a decision, but no further discussion took place, Netanyahu did not approve of advancing the plan, and no prisoner deal took place.