Hamas’s armed wing on Monday accused Israel of “postponing” discussions via Qatari mediation over the possible release of dozens of hostages in exchange for the “200 children and 75 women” detained by Israel.
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“Qatari mediation led to efforts to secure the release of the (hostages) in exchange for the release of 200 Palestinian children and 75 Palestinian women from enemy prisons,” brigades spokesman Ezzedine al-Qassam Abou Obeida assured in a statement Audio recording released by Hamas.
Israel “demanded the release of 100 (hostages), we told the mediation that we could release the hostages if we achieved a five-day ceasefire – that is, a ceasefire and the flow of aid to all our people throughout the Gaza Strip – but The enemy hesitates,” he continued.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised the possibility of a possible agreement to release Hamas hostages in the Gaza Strip in an interview with NBC.
Mr Netanyahu was asked by the American broadcaster about the possibility of an agreement regarding the women, children and elderly people being held hostage.
The Israeli military estimates that about 240 people were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip during the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the current war. According to Israeli media, these prisoners include at least thirty minors, including small children.
Since the Hamas attack, which according to Israeli authorities killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, Israeli retaliatory strikes have killed more than 11,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas government. Israel’s political and military leaders continue to emphasize that there will be “no ceasefire without the release of the hostages.”