On Sunday, the spokesman of Hamas’s military unit, known by his nom de guerre Abu Obeida, stated that the only way for the group to release Israeli captives alive is for the Israelis and their supporters to accept its conditions, which include the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Abu Obeida emphasized, “Neither the fascist enemy and its arrogant leadership, nor its supporters, can take their prisoners alive without an exchange and negotiation and meeting the demands of the resistance.”
During a pause in the Gaza war that ended on December 1, Hamas exchanged 80 Israeli captives for 240 Palestinian prisoners. The truce, mediated by Qatar and other countries, also allowed the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza after weeks of Israeli attacks on the territory.
Israeli sources report that Hamas still holds 137 captives from the operation it carried out on October 7 in the occupied territories, during which some 1,200 Israeli settlers and military forces were also killed.
Qatar warned on Sunday that the ongoing Israeli bombardment and assaults on Gaza may jeopardize the negotiations for a new ceasefire in Gaza.
Abu Obeida affirmed that Hamas will continue to fight Israel regardless of the intensity of the regime’s attacks on Gaza, which he said is meant to “break the strength of our resistance.” He added, “We have no choice but to fight this barbaric occupier in every neighborhood, street, and alley.”
According to figures provided by Hamas health authorities, around 18,000 people have been killed in Gaza in 63 days of Israeli onslaught.
MNA