BEIRUT: Lebanon appears to be headed toward “all in one basket” swap deal to end the hostage crisis with Islamist militants holding 25 soldiers and policemen hostage, a Muslim Scholars Committee member said.
“I felt that the government is inclined toward all in one basket swap and not a broken [agreement],” Committee member Adnan Amama told local daily An-Nahar in remarks published Thursday.
Likewise, Amama said, ISIS and Nusra Front jihadists – the two extremist groups holding the hostages since early August – were eager to end the crisis.
"They are also troubled by the crisis and want to get over the problem,” he said, adding that the captors have drawn “red lines” in their swap deal.
But Amama quickly adds that the militants showed flexibility toward the numbers and names of prisoners they seek to exchange for the hostages.
“It is important today to build trust and to cool down the tense situation,” he said.
On the issue of the wife and ex-wife of Islamist leaders being held by Lebanese authorities, Amama said the Committee is hopeful of a happy ending.
“Abu Ali Shishani’s wife, Ola Oqaily has been handed over to General Security ... and she could soon be released,” he said. “As for [ISIS leader Baghdadi’s ex-wife Saja] Dulaimi, we took a promise [from authorities] that her status will be settled allowing her release.”
Amama stressed that Shishani had nothing to do with either ISIS or Nusra Front.
“Nusra’s demands are not limited to its members,” he explained. “Nusra sees in women’s detention a big issue.”
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