Hamas says handed list of 34 captives to 'Israel' for exchange
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As Israeli settlers and captives alike plead for their lives to be saved, Hamas hands over the names of captives to be released as part of a prisoner swap with "Israel".
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People hold portraits of the settlers taken captive in Hamas’ October 7 operation, in occupied al-Quds, Tuesday, August 20, 2024 (AP)
Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas has reportedly approved a list of 34 captives for a potential exchange deal as part of ongoing discussions about a ceasefire, a Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday.
The official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, emphasized that any agreement remains conditional upon an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Despite this development, progress on these issues appears limited. The official stated, "There has been no progress from Israel on the matters of withdrawal from Gaza or a permanent ceasefire."
However, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disputed Hamas' statement, claiming that the group has not provided any names for the proposed exchange. In a statement issued Sunday evening, the office declared, "Up to this moment, Hamas has not delivered a list of hostage names."
The Israeli occupation and Hamas remained at odds on Sunday over the terms of a potential ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as intensified Israeli airstrikes killed over 100 Palestinians during the weekend.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the return of Israeli captives continue in Doha, with Qatari and Egyptian mediators playing a key role. The Biden administration has also urged Hamas to finalize an agreement before the US presidential transition on January 20.
While Hamas expressed its commitment to reaching a deal, the group reiterated that any agreement must include the Israeli occupation's withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. "The occupation continues to be obstinate over an agreement... and has made no step forward," a Hamas official told Reuters anonymously.
Netanyahu, however, has consistently maintained that the war will only conclude once Hamas is eliminated as a military and governing force.
Captive says life hinges on IOF withdrawal
The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a video on Saturday featuring Israeli captive Liri Elbag, 19, expressing frustration over her continued detention since October 7, 2023.
In the footage, Elbag accused the Israeli government and military of "manipulating the fate of hostages."
In the video, she revealed that another captive had sustained severe injuries due to ongoing Israeli assaults, emphasizing that the captives’ release hinges on the withdrawal of Israeli forces. She lamented that the captives are "not a priority for the government or the army."
Addressing the Israeli government, she criticized the reliance on military operations to free captives, stating, "This will not work, and you know it. It’s insane to believe that this method will yield results."
Elbag described her experience as a "terrifying nightmare", adding, "After witnessing death firsthand and what happened to my friend, I realized that our lives don’t matter to you (Israeli leaders). I understood that we are just pawns in your hands. This chaotic pursuit we’re enduring is abnormal and inhumane."
She concluded her message by speaking directly to Israeli settlers, "If anything happens to me, let it be written on my grave that it was all because of the government and the army."
