Hamas ready for 'immediate' all-for-all prisoner swap with 'Israel'
Hamas' leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya al-Sinwar says the movement is prepared to initiate a prompt prisoner exchange arrangement that encompasses the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of all captives.
Hamas' leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya al-Sinwar stated, on Saturday, that the Resistance movement is prepared for an "immediate" exchange of prisoners with "Israel", however, he stressed that it should be under the formula of all for all.
"We are ready to conduct an immediate prisoner exchange deal that includes the release of all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for all prisoners held by the Palestinian Resistance," al-Sinwar said in a statement.
This comes shortly after the military spokesperson for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, disclosed that the Israeli occupation entity has delayed negotiations regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners, noting that over 50 captives have been killed so far due to Israeli strikes.
"If the [Israeli] enemy wants to resolve the prisoners' issue once and for all, we are ready. And if they want to go into the process of dealing with the file separately, we are also ready."
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 28, 2023
- Al-Qassam Brigades Spokesperson, Abu Obeida#Gaza #GazaUnderAttack https://t.co/M9Kj6Da1DK
Reiterating the conditions for the exchange of captives, Abu Obeida said the "price" for the release of Israeli captives, is the immediate release of all Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli occupation prisons. He also declared that the Resistance is ready to carry out the exchange in one go or in several stages.
Shortly after Abu Obeida's speech, Israeli media reported that representatives of the families of Israeli captives in Gaza requested, following their meeting with Israeli occupation's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a prisoner exchange deal involving all Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all captives held by the Resistance.
In response to growing concerns about the fate of the captives during "Israel's expansion of ground operation in Gaza," Netanyahu agreed to meet with representatives of the families who were seeking information on the government's approach. While Netanyahu did not commit to a specific exchange deal, he claimed to the families that authorities would make every effort to bring the hostages home.
Earlier, relatives of some of the 229 Israeli captives in Gaza staged a protest and urgently appealed on Saturday for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and other members of the war cabinet.
This request comes as "Israel" carried out deliberate strikes that disrupted communication networks in Gaza, while occupation forces declared an "expansion" of ground incursions into the Strip.
Israeli media reported that protesters demanding the release of captives and the dismissal of Netanyahu blocked a road near the Ministry of Security in "Tel Aviv".
The families expressed concern for the safety of their family members as the Israeli war machine launched an unprecedented bombing of the Strip last night, which they described as "the most terrible of all nights."
Simultaneously, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum issued a statement on Saturday, describing a long and sleepless night filled with Israeli bombardments and a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. They expressed deep uncertainty about the fate of the captives held in Gaza, who were also subjected to heavy bombings.
It is worth noting that the Palestinian Health Ministry announced on Saturday that the number of martyrs in Gaza due to the Israeli aggression has risen to 7,703 so far, including 3,595 children. In a statement, the Ministry added that the Israeli occupation committed 53 massacres just yesterday and 825 against families in total since October 7.
Read more: US isolated in UNGA resolution for immediate ceasefire in Gaza