Senior Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh announced on erev Shabbos that reports of secret negotiations for the return of the bodies of IDF Lt. Hadar Goldin and Sgt. Oren Shaul are untrue.

Haniyeh insists the reports are fabricated, stating there are no talks whatsoever taking place.

Goldin and Shaul fell in battle in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge almost two years ago and their bodies taken by Hamas fighters.

Israeli officials have reported talks are ongoing but Haniyeh says this is untrue, adding there will not be talks until the terrorists re-arrested following the Shalit prisoner exchange are released by Israel.

Haniyeh refers to approximately fifty terrorists who were re-arrested after it was determined they returned to the life of terrorism. Haniyeh vows there will be no negotiations with Israel until they are all released, speaking at an Id el-Fitr event on Friday, 2 Tammuz.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)