Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Hamas willing to swap hostages to prolong truce – Official
An official of Hamas and former Health Minister of Gaza, Bassem Naim, has said that the movement is willing to release all Israeli soldiers held captive in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Naim described the ongoing negotiations to extend a cessation of hostilities that was due to expire following a six-day pause in fighting.
Addressing the press during a visit to South Africa, Naim stated that Hamas was engaged in challenging negotiations to prolong the truce agreement.
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The statement follows the unprecedented capturing of about 240 captives from Southern Israel by Gaza militants on October 7, prompting a vow from Israel to eliminate Hamas and an ensuing air and ground campaign that resulted in a significant number of casualties, predominantly civilians.
Under the truce agreement, sixty Israeli hostages and 180 Palestinian prisoners have been released, with several remaining hostages still held by Hamas, including soldiers excluded from the exchange agreement. Hamas is likely to leverage these hostages as a negotiating tool.
In 2011, more than 1,000 Palestinians were exchanged for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been a prisoner of Hamas for five years.
Activist groups underscored that there are over 7,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including prominent individuals, underscoring the significance of a potential exchange involving the remaining hostages.
Hamas had previously demanded the release of all Palestinian prisoners from Israel and offered to release all hostages in return.
The new proposal comes amid heightened efforts to extend the ceasefire, with Hamas expressing its readiness to extend the truce and release additional Israeli hostages in collaboration with mediators to negotiate a lasting ceasefire.
“We are working with mediators to pursue a permanent ceasefire,” Naim affirmed.
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