GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a dinner party on July 10 in Jerusalem to honor Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who had come to Israel in a first visit of its kind since 2007. Shoukry accepted Netanyahu’s demand for help from Egypt to return the Israeli missing soldiers held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to a July 11 article posted on the website of the Hebrew-language Channel Arabil.

But with the deteriorating bilateral relations between Egypt and Hamas due to the latter’s ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, some questions are perplexing observers. How can Hamas count on Egypt to be a mediator between the movement and Israel? Can the current Egyptian regime help Israel retrieve its missing people? Which is the alternative state for Egypt that could play the role of mediator between Hamas and Israel to conclude a new prisoner exchange deal?

Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, posted on April 1 photos of four Israelis who it is reportedly detaining, including photos of soldiers Shaul Aaron and Hadar Goldin. While Hamas has claimed they were taken captive during the last Israeli war on Gaza, Israel maintains that both were killed in battle and Hamas is holding their remains.

To even consider a new exchange deal, Hamas first wants Israel to free the Palestinian detainees that it had rearrested after their release as part of the Gilad Shalit exchange deal in October 2011. Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar addressed Israel during Hamas’ celebration of its 28th anniversary in Gaza on Dec. 14, 2015, saying, “You must free the detainees who were released as part of the Gilad Shalit deal. We will not speak another word about this issue unless they are released and unless you vow that this will never happen again.”