The Palestinian leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, stated Monday that his terrorist organization is willing to engage in direct negotiations on a prisoner swap deal with Israel.

Sinwar relayed the message after meeting Egypt’s General Intelligence Directorate (GID), Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel, who made a diplomatic trip to Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza.

The Hamas leader further stipulated that the matter of exchanging prisoners is not connected to Israel removing its blockade on the Palestinian enclave.

“There is no reason why the two cannot move forward simultaneously and with no connection to each other,” Sinwar noted, emphasizing that Hamas is ready for immediate negotiations.

Sinwar also commented on international guarantees to rehabilitate the Gaza Strip, saying that “would countries and the Egyptians said they want to turn the Gaza Strip into Dubai.”