Tel Aviv (Israel), December 9, 2023. Family members and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza light up their phones demanding their release during a protest outside the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv. Israel, December 9, 2023. According to the Israeli army, 137 Israelis are still being held hostage in Gaza. (protests)
The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas warned this Sunday 10th that none of the hostages were kidnapped during the attack of October 7th Israel and who stays inside Gaza Strip will leave the area “alive” without negotiations. “Neither the fascist enemy and its arrogant leaders nor its supporters will be able to bring back their prisoners alive without exchange and negotiation and without meeting the demands of the resistance,” Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, said on television. In late November, a weeklong ceasefire agreement allowed 105 hostages Detainees in Gaza, including 80 Israelis, were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. According to Israeli government estimates, there are still 137 hostages in Palestinian territory.
Qatar, the main mediator between the two sides, said efforts for a new ceasefire and further releases of hostages “continue” but warned that constant Israeli bombing was “reducing” the chances of achieving it. Obeida stated that the group would continue to fight against the Israeli forces. “We have no choice but to fight this barbaric occupier in every neighborhood, every street and every alley,” he said. “The enemy’s holocaust aims to break the strength of our resistance, but we are fighting a holy battle in our country,” he added. Israel maintains that the bombings are necessary to destroy the terrorist group and that it informs the targets in advance so that civilians can get to a safe location
On October 7, Hamas carried out a bloody attack in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapping 240 others, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel launched an air, sea and land offensive against the Palestinian movement, killing at least 17,700 people in the Gaza Strip, most of them women and minors, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.
*With information from AFP