Hamas raised idea of expedited swap, fearing Israel would torpedo deal before Shalit prisoners released — report

Hamas was the party that first raised the idea of expediting the release of the remaining living hostages, two Israeli officials tell Axios.

Hamas will in turn be securing the early release of 47 Hamas members who were released in the 2011 exchange for former IDF soldier Gilad Shalit but later rearrested by Israel. The original deal had stipulated that those 47 prisoners were slated for release by the 42nd and final day of phase one.

“Hamas feared that the agreement will not last until day 42 when these 47 prisoners were supposed to be released, because Israel will blow it up,” an Israeli official tells Axios.

The decision to expedite the swap indicates that both sides think that the hostage deal might collapse before the 42nd day of phase one, Axios speculates.

For his part, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya says in a statement that Hamas is prepared to immediately begin negotiations regarding phase two of the deal — something that Israel has refrained from doing to date.