Hamas' Abu Obeida reveals possible Qatari-mediated prisoner swap

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Nov 2023 23:23
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Abu Obeida reveals that a prisoner swap deal was reached with Qatari mediation as the aggression on Gaza near its 40th day.

Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida

The spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, Abu Obeida, revealed Monday that there are ongoing efforts by Qatari mediators to release Israeli captives in exchange for the release of 200 Palestinian children and 75 women.

Abu Obeida said the Israeli occupation requested the release of 100 women and children of its captives in Gaza.

"The mediators informed us that we can have a 5-day ceasefire, which includes releasing 50 women and children captured in Gaza," the military spokesperson underlined.

"The ceasefire includes the release of a number of detainees in Gaza, cessation of hostilities, and allowing aid to enter the strip, but the enemy is still delaying it," he added.

Moreover, Abu Obeida warned the Israeli occupation that continued air and ground aggression on Gaza inevitably jeopardizes the lives of the Israeli captives, revealing that an Israeli soldier by the name of Faul Azai Mark Asiani was killed at the hands of the Israeli occupation on November 9 as it was carrying out air raids on Gaza.

Talking about the course the operation is taking, Abu Obeida said the Resistance fighters of the al-Qassam Brigades continue to brazenly confront the Israeli occupation forces 38 days into Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

"Al-Qassam partially or fully destroyed 20 Israeli military vehicles during the past 48 hours," Abu Obeida said.

He also revealed that al-Qassam continues to pound the Israeli occupation's forces, blowing up its tanks, armored vehicles, and its infantry forces using mortar shells. "The occupying forces will continue to be shelled by our Resistance fighters with every step they take."

He said that the delusions of the war leaders to eliminate our resistance in Gaza are an attempt to escape from the staggering defeat and the harsh reality experienced by those whose faces are covered in dust.

Gaza putting up a fight

Abu Obeida appealed to the free people of the world, saying, "O' all free people of the world, we are watching your actions and seeing the extent of their significant impact and the confusion they are causing the aggressive Zionists, so fulfill your duty towards Palestine and its cause, as all Arabs, Muslims, and free people around the world are entrusted with it."

Intense clashes have been taking place in the southern and northern parts of the western axis of Gaza between the resistance fighters and the occupation army whose fighters are facing those of the Resistance from point-blank range as they come under barrages of shells from Gaza.

The families of the Israeli settlers taken captive by the Palestinian Resistance during Operation al-Aqsa Flood underlined during a meeting with the Israeli Knesset committee that the settlers "cannot be left to die once again."

At the start of the discussion in the Knesset, the representatives of the captives' families said there was "no moral explanation for the existence of the state."

"We were abandoned once on that cursed Saturday, and we will not allow them not to be returned," the Israeli Maariv website reported.

There has been no prisoner swap deal thus far as the Israeli occupation forces bomb all walks of life in Gaza, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings. The indiscriminate bombing has already killed several Israeli captives in Gaza.

Israeli captives forgotten

Israeli news broadcaster Channel 13 reported on Friday, quoting Israeli officials, that no agreements have been reached yet regarding a potential prisoner exchange, noting that negotiations are ongoing.

The officials confirmed to the broadcaster that "Israel" is interested in a comprehensive deal and is "prepared to pay the price."

Yesterday, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, Abu Hamza, announced the readiness of the resistance to release the prisoners Hanna Kastir and Yaghel Ya'qub "for humanitarian and health reasons."

Additionally, Reuters reported that a meeting between Qatari mediators and Hamas officials discussed possible outlines for a deal between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation. The agency stated that another meeting brought together the head of the Israeli Mossad, the US intelligence director, and the Qatari Prime Minister following the Qatari mediators' meeting with Hamas. However, the agency confirmed that the "results of these talks are unclear."

Previously, Abu Obeida announced that the Israeli regime refused to negotiate a prisoner deal swap and had thwarted the release of 12 Israeli captives.

Yaron Avraham, the political affairs commentator on Channel 12 said that the CIA's involvement in talks regarding a prisoner release deal is "crucial," highlighting several proposals days ago that remained unresolved, while discussions revolve around a specific draft now.