Hamas says it will not negotiate the release of more hostages without a ceasefire in Gaza
The Islamist group Hamas assured in the early hours of this Sunday that there will be no negotiations on the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners without an end to the fighting between the militia and the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian faction rejects entering into negotiations for the release of the Israeli hostages it is holding in Gaza, according to a statement from the Sunni group reported by Efe news agency.
The statement ensures that “Hamas reiterates its position that there will be no negotiations on a prisoner exchange agreement unless the aggression against the Gaza Strip has completely ended and the conditions for resistance are met.” According to Hamas This position conveyed to all mediators – Qatar, Egypt and the United States – in the negotiations with Israel.
The statement by the Islamist militia, designated a terrorist organization by the EU and US, comes after the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli army claimed responsibility on Saturday for the mistaken deaths of three hostages shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip Pressure from the families of the abductees for a new ceasefire that would allow their release after 71 days of war.
“The State of Israel regrets the tragic death of three of our abducted people,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an appearance after relatives insisted on a new ceasefire in the wake of Israel's military offensive to bring them home. “We will learn the lessons,” assumed the head of government, without, however, giving up his position of maintaining the relentless military operation in the Palestinian strip.
In the afternoon, Netanyahu indicated that new negotiations were underway to repatriate hostages held by Hamas in Gaza after his Mossad intelligence chief met with the prime minister of Qatar, a country that mediates with the Palestinian militia. Netanyahu insisted that maintaining “military pressure” in Gaza helped secure the deal to release the hostages in November. “The instruction I give to the negotiating team is based on this pressure, without which we have nothing,” he said.
In this sense, Qatar reiterated on Saturday that there are “diplomatic efforts” to agree on a new ceasefire in Gaza that would allow the release of more hostage Palestinian prisoners. “Qatar expressed its hope to build on the progress made to reach a comprehensive and sustainable agreement to end the war,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.