A Hamas leadership source: Optimism about the imminent arrival of an exchange deal does not reflect the truth. Earlier today, the Official Broadcasting Authority quoted Israeli sources as saying that there was optimism that understandings would be reached before the month of Ramadan.
However, it quoted a security official that the potential deal would not prevent the ground operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. Last night, the Israeli police suppressed a demonstration in central Tel Aviv demanding the conclusion of a prisoner exchange agreement, under the pretext that it was illegal and disrupted public security.