Israel, Hamas deny reports of prisoner swap breakthrough

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Both Israel and Hamas have confirmed that an Egyptian and German-mediated prisoner swap deal is not likely to take place in the immediate future. The agreement aims to free a captive Jewish State soldier via the release of around 1,000 Palestinians from Israeli jails.

Osama al-Muzaini, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, denied that any exchange between his political party and Israel's government "has become imminent." He declined to identify the intermediaries in the proposed deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also told his weekly cabinet meeting that Israel had made no agreement for the captured soldier's return.

Several earlier media reports had announced a breakthrough in the talks brokered by Egypt and Germany.