Hamas Demands Release Of Palestinian Prisoners (image- instagram/motaz_azazia)
A top Hamas leader said on Monday that they have got “what it needs” to free all Palestinians in Israel jail, indicating that the group might use the Israelis they have kidnapped as the bargaining chip to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas official Khaled Meshaal made the remark on the captives which includes Israelis and non-Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on Oct 7. The group then called the non-Israeli captives as guest and said that they would be released when circumstances allow, reports Reuters.
The captives are believed to include nationals of Thailand and Germany. Israelis with dual nationality in countries including US are believed to have kidnapped. Citizens from other countries are also reported missing.
Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a video message that Hamas has “a group of detainees of different nationalities, these are our guests and we seek to protect them.”
While another senior Hamas official, Moussa Abu Marzouk said on Monday that foreign prisoners cannot be released at the moment due to the continuous Israeli bombing at the Gaza strip.
Hamas has confirmed that the captives are around 250 while the Israeli military group says the group is holding 199 hostages in Gaza.
Hamas which like other factions has long called for the release of the roughly 6000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, “has what it needs to empty the prisons of all prisoners,” Meshaal, a former Hamas chief who now heads its diaspora office in Doha, told AlAraby TV.
Earlier similar swaps have been done. In 2011, Israel swapped hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange of the release of one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Gilad Shilat was held in prison for five years. But this exchange was criticized by some Israelis and called it lopsided.
While Israel which has bombarded Gaza with strikes that have killed hundreds of innocent civilians responded to the demand by saying that they would free hostages by eliminating Hamas.
