'Israel' wants prisoner swap without 'paying price': Resistance source

By Al Mayadeen English
13 Feb 2024 15:59
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A source from Gaza's Resistance tells Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation is attempting to hollow out the Paris Document so as not to meet conditions demanded by the Resistance.

Members of Hamas' Al-Qassam Resistance Brigades hand Israeli captives to a UN team during a prisoner exchange with the occupation in November 2023. (AFP)

A source within the Resistance in the Gaza Strip revealed to Al Mayadeen on Tuesday that the Israeli occupation is attempting to hollow out the contents of the Paris Document and achieve progress on the captive-prisoner exchange without "paying the price demanded by the Resistance."

The Paris Document entailed a three-stage prisoner exchange deal, but the proposal did not meet the Resistance's conditions, as it neglected the requirements for a ceasefire and a withdrawal from Gaza.

Hamas handed its response to mediators last week, saying it had approached the proposal "positively" and included modifications it deemed non-negotiable.

The introduced changes included a comprehensive and complete ceasefire, ending the aggression, securing relief, shelter, and reconstruction, in addition to lifting the siege on Gaza, and completing the process of a prisoner exchange agreement.

Resistance still capable of long battle

Resistance sources explained to Al Mayadeen last week that the positive response does not imply in any way that the Resistance has been weakened or lost its ability to fight, stressing that it still possesses military capabilities and manpower, enabling it to confront for the longest possible period.

Reiterating the Resistance's stance, sources stated that despite its keenness to ensure the success of mediation efforts, the Resistance will not compromise on its demands, nor will it give the occupation an opportunity to make political gains after its military failure.

In terms of battlefield developments, they emphasized that the losses incurred by the occupation in Khan Younis are much greater than what is publicly declared, adding that its elite units, which it relied on as a substitute for its regular army, are facing significant logistical and operational problems.

The Paris Document came as a result of a meeting of top intelligence officials from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and France in Paris earlier in late January.

The Israeli occupation rejected the the Resistance's changes to the original Paris Document proposal which demanded a ceasefire as a prerequisite for any further steps.