Hamas: No Prisoner Exchange Deal without Israeli Pullout and Ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli captives were released successful Gaza City successful November 2023. (Photo: video grab)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Hamas insists connected a broad woody involving Israeli withdrawal, a ceasefire, and captive release.

The Palestinian Resistance movement, Hamas, confirmed that it is consenting to prosecute successful a imaginable captive speech with Israel, agreeing to a database of 34 captives provided by the Israeli government. 

However, the radical has made it wide that it volition lone proceed with the speech if definite conditions are met, including an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a ceasefire, and the merchandise of Palestinian prisoners.

A elder Hamas authoritative told Reuters that portion the radical has shown immoderate flexibility by considering Israel’s database of captives, Israel has yet to respond to Hamas’s demands for halting its battle connected Gaza. According to the official, immoderate statement that fails to guarantee these cardinal demands volition beryllium rejected.

Hamas has stated that these terms—an Israeli withdrawal and a ceasefire—are non-negotiable for bringing an extremity to the ongoing violence. 

The authoritative besides emphasized Hamas’ committedness to securing the merchandise of Palestinian prisoners and improving the dire humanitarian conditions successful Gaza. However, they warned that Israel’s refusal to code these presumption could pb to further escalation and prolong the suffering of the Palestinian people.

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Negotiations Continue

Israeli regular Yedioth Ahronoth reported contiguous that Israeli officials are advocating for a limited, one-time captive exchange, which would impact the merchandise of a prime fig of Israeli captives. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities has reportedly been moving connected a woody to unafraid this constricted exchange, contempt important absorption from factions wrong the Israeli governmental establishment.

The paper besides revealed that Mossad main David Barnea volition question to Doha time to prosecute successful captious talks, accompanied by Brett McGurk, US President Joe Biden’s outgoing Middle East envoy. 

The mediation efforts are considered to beryllium astatine a important juncture, peculiarly aft a caller video released by Hamas showing Israeli captive Liri Albagh, who criticized the Israeli authorities for its nonaccomplishment to unafraid the merchandise of prisoners.

Despite these diplomatic moves, Yedioth Ahronoth noted that the Israeli authorities is reluctant to sermon immoderate further phases of a bid woody until the archetypal phase—concerning the contiguous speech of prisoners—has been resolved. 

Netanyahu’s strategy, according to reports, aims to appease far-right conjugation partners portion stalling advancement connected the larger issues of withdrawal and ceasefire.

A elder Israeli subject root disclosed that the existent concern is acold from ideal. They noted that, portion a tiny speech woody could beryllium reached successful the abbreviated term, it whitethorn not pb to a larger breakthrough successful negotiations, and mightiness adjacent diminish aboriginal bargaining powerfulness for Hamas. 

“We person to admit that immoderate woody astatine this signifier would not beryllium comprehensive, and it risks prolonging the conflict,” the root said.

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Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies

As the warfare successful Gaza continues, humanitarian concerns are increasing much urgent. Israel’s assault, which began connected October 7, 2023, has created a devastating humanitarian crisis, with implicit 45,000 Palestinians reported dormant and much than 109,000 wounded, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. These figures are expected to rise, with astatine slightest 11,000 radical inactive missing, presumed buried nether rubble crossed Gaza.

The war, which Palestinians notation to arsenic “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” began with a subject cognition launched by Hamas against Israeli territory. Israel reports that 1,139 of its soldiers and civilians were killed successful the archetypal assault, though immoderate Israeli sources person raised questions astir the fig of casualties resulting from affable fire.

Human rights groups proceed to study that the overwhelming bulk of casualties successful Gaza are women and children. The warfare has exacerbated a dire nutrient shortage, with thousands of children among the victims, highlighting the severity of the ongoing famine and the worsening wellness crisis.

Over 2 cardinal Palestinians person been displaced crossed Gaza, with galore fleeing to the already overcrowded confederate region. The Strip remains nether siege, with constricted entree to indispensable resources specified arsenic food, water, and aesculapian supplies.

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The ongoing unit has led to charges of genocide against Israel, arsenic the planetary assemblage grapples with the standard of the devastation successful Gaza. Human rights organizations and governmental leaders person called for urgent involution to halt the bloodshed and code the humanitarian exigency earlier it escalates further.

While planetary negotiations continue, Hamas remains steadfast connected its request for a broad woody that includes an Israeli withdrawal and an extremity to the war. Without these guarantees, the radical warns, the rhythm of unit is apt to persist.

(The Palestine Chronicle)