GAZA STRIP (AFP/Middle East Eye) – The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas released footage of a detained Zionist man on a ventilator, the first image of the man shown to the public since he crossed into the Gaza Strip and was arrested seven years ago.
Hisham al-Sayed wandered into the besieged enclave in 2015 where he was captured by Hamas, who say he is “a soldier in the occupation army”.
His father Sha’aban al-Sayed said Hisham served in the Zionist regime’s military for a few months.
Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of Hamas’ military wing Izzideen al-Qassam Brigades, said in a rare statement on Monday that “the health of one of the enemy prisoners” had deteriorated and that it would release proof “in the coming hours”.
The group also holds another Zionist, Avera Mengistu, who entered the strip in September 2014 for unclear reasons.
Two Zionist troops, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, were captured a month earlier by the resistance movement. The occupying regime says both are presumed dead, while Hamas refused to comment on whether they are alive or dead.
Hisham’s father has previously called on Hamas to release his son, saying he suffered from mental health issues and had been receiving care.
The occupying regime holds more than 4,700 Palestinian prisoners, including 640 who are in so-called administrative detention with no charge or trial or definitive release date.
Hamas and the occupying regime have indirectly negotiated a prisoner swap deal at various times since 2014 without a breakthrough.
According to Haaretz, the Zionist prime minister’s office said they would continue working with Egypt to negotiate the Zionist’s release.
The most famous swap came in 2011, when Gilad Shalit – a Zionist trooper abducted by the Palestinian group in a raid in 2006 - was released in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinians held in the regime’s jails.