Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar spoke directly to Gaza via Hamas' television network April 2. Sinwar told residents about how Hamas is preparing for the war against the pandemic. Among other things he showed them how the keffiyeh, or headscarf worn by Muslim men, could help them protect themselves and their surroundings. He then spoke directly to Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, saying that Hamas doesn’t need any help but threatening, “If ventilators are not brought into [Gaza], we’ll take them by force from Israel and stop the breathing of six million Israelis.”

Now as in the past, such threats from Sinwar and other Hamas leaders are intended to tell the people of Gaza that the organization is still strong and has options. However, these baseless threats revealed what really concerns Sinwar. He is worried that the novel coronavirus pandemic will spread to Israeli prisons and infect Palestinian security prisoners being held there. For the first time ever, a Hamas leader stated that he is willing to compromise on the issue of prisoners.

In the past, Hamas had shown no flexibility whatsoever when it comes to negotiating over returning the bodies of Israeli soldiers Hadar Goldin and Shaul Oron, which have been held in Gaza for the past six years, or Israeli civilians Avera Avraham Mengistu and Hisham as-Sayyid, who are held by Hamas. “We are ready to make partial concessions on our prisoners issue in exchange for Israel's release of elderly prisoners, patients and prisoners as a humanitarian gesture in light of the coronavirus crisis,” he said.

If there is one thing that Israel and Hamas are both worried about, it is the spread of the coronavirus in Israeli prisons. As for Israelis charged with criminal offenses, Minister of Internal Security Gilad Erdan has ordered that some will receive an early release, while others will be placed under house arrest. The release of security prisoners is another story.