Islamic Jihad delegation to visit Egypt for talks on hostage deal with Israel

GAZA CITY, Palestine

A delegation from the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad will visit Egypt for talks on a possible hostage swap deal with Israel, according to a group official on Wednesday.

“The delegation will discuss ways to stop the [Israeli] war on Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal,” Ziad al-Nakhala, Secretary-General of Islamic Jihad group, said in a statement.

He said his movement will press for a halt of the Israeli onslaught, withdrawal of all Israeli forces and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in return for any hostage deal.

"The swap of hostages will take place based on the all-for-all principle, in a political process agreed upon by the Palestinian forces, led by Hamas,” al-Nakhala added.

A group source earlier said that Egypt had invited a delegation from the movement for talks on the developments of the Israeli war on Gaza.

The source said the delegation is expected to visit the Egyptian capital, Cairo, by the end of this week.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo early Wednesday for talks with Egyptian officials on the Israeli war and other issues, without providing any further details.

There was no immediate comment from the Egyptian authorities on the report.

On Tuesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Tel Aviv is prepared for another humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages.

A previous swap deal last month saw the release of 84 Israelis and 24 foreigners by Hamas in exchange for 240 Palestinians from Israeli jails, including 71 women and 169 children.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala