Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi says the possibility of granting presidential pardons to three jailed Al-Jazeera journalists, including Australian Peter Greste, is being considered.

“This issue is under study,” Sisi said in an interview with France 24 on Thursday.

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Asked if they will be pardoned soon, he said: “If we find that this is appropriate for Egyptian national security, then we will do it.”

Sisi’s remarks came after he last week signed a decree allowing for the extradition of foreigners charged with a crime or sentenced in Egypt.

Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Egyptian Mohamed Baher were convicted of supporting the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood, and of spreading false information.

An Egyptian court in June handed down jail terms of between seven and 10 years to the three journalists.

Sisi has previously stressed that he does not interfere in Egyptian court rulings, but he has mentioned more than once that he wished the journalists had been deported rather than prosecuted.

An Egyptian court is scheduled to hear an appeal of their convictions on January 1.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said it would be good news if President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi changed his mind about a pardon before the court appeal process was completed.

“If there is a move for (Mr Greste) to be released earlier we certainly welcome it,” she told the Nine Network on Friday.

She said Australia had been making representations at the highest level.

Peter Greste’s father Juris says the comments are welcome but his family is trying not to get their hopes up.

“We’re always pleased and we’re always hopeful this kind of turn of events would take place, however we have had rumours either explicit or implied of this kind before,” he told the ABC on Friday.

“We have built up hope but in fact it hasn’t led anywhere.”