A Hamas official has stated that the movement will not agree to release any Israeli hostages unless Israel stops its aggressive attacks on Gaza and increases humanitarian aid to the region.
Taher Al-Nono, media advisor to Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, conveyed to Reuters that “Hamas is not prepared to discuss releasing more Israeli hostages until Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza and the volume of humanitarian aid for civilians increases.”
During an interview in Cairo, Al-Nono said, “The issue of prisoners can be negotiated after these two conditions. We cannot talk about negotiations while Israel continues its aggression. Any proposition regarding prisoners must be discussed after the aggression stops.”
Al-Nono further explained that the Hamas delegation detailed the field and political situations and the requirements for improving humanitarian conditions and increasing aid to the Palestinian people, ensuring delivery of this aid across Gaza’s northern and southern regions. He emphasized, “We spoke clearly with our brothers in Egypt about our stance towards this aggression and the necessity of its immediate cessation.”
In contrast, Israel insists that the war will not end until Hamas is defeated, and the hostages are recovered. Haniyeh’s recent visit to Egypt, his first in over a month, was for talks with Egyptian officials who are trying to mediate another truce.
The Jihad movement, which also holds hostages in Gaza, stated that its leader would visit Egypt in the coming days to discuss ending the conflict.
The United States mentioned that “very serious” negotiations are underway about a new truce in Gaza and the release of more Israeli hostages. However, the prospects for an agreement remain unclear with Hamas’s insistence on not discussing anything other than the complete cessation of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
President Joe Biden expressed on Wednesday that he does not expect a second agreement for the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas soon but stated, “We are exerting pressure.”
White House spokesperson John Kirby affirmed the seriousness of these discussions and negotiations, expressing hope for a productive outcome.
Under a previous week-long truce, Hamas and Jihad released 110 hostages in exchange for Israel’s release of a larger number of Palestinian prisoners. Approximately 130 hostages are still believed to be inside Gaza.
