Palestinian group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has said no more hostages would be released until Israel agrees to a “full cessation of aggression”, BBC reported. The development comes after a week-long ceasefire ended this month and negotiations on a new truce have been taking place in Cairo, Egypt.
“There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk about prisoners or exchange deals except after a full cessation of aggression,” BBC quoted a Hamas statement as saying.
Hamas has said that it had two pre-conditions for any serious negotiation. A Hamas official told news agency AFP, “A total ceasefire and a retreat of the Israeli occupation army from the Gaza Strip are a precondition for any serious negotiation.”
Israel has made its stance clear that it would not stop until the goal of Hamas’ destruction is achieved. Israel has repeatedly rejected any proposition of a retreat from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday, “We are fighting until victory. We will not stop the war until we achieve all its goals — completing the destruction of Hamas, and releasing all of our hostages,” reported The Times of Israel.
Netanyahu added that Hamas had a very simple choice — surrender or die. He emphasised that Hamas does not have and will not have any other option.
Israel has claimed that it killed more than 2,000 Hamas fighters in Gaza since the truce that was announced earlier this month during which more than 100 hostages were set free. However, around 120 people abducted from Israel on October 7 are still believed to be in Gaza’s captivity, as reported by the BBC. This week-long truce brought an increased flow of aid into Gaza. The UN had earlier warned that the population was at risk of famine if the war between Israel and Hamas continues.
Efforts at the United Nations continue to pass a resolution on the war. The US has stated that it still had serious concerns over the draft UN Security Council resolution following which the voting has been postponed to next Friday.