Haniyeh: No prisoner swap while Israeli strikes ongoing

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Oct 2023 16:03

Leader of Hamas' political bureau announces that the Palestinian Resistance will not engage in discussions regarding a prisoner exchange if Israeli attacks continue.

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh speaks to the press. (AFP)

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas' political bureau, declared on Tuesday that the Palestinian Resistance is not willing to engage in discussions regarding a prisoner exchange while Israeli attacks are still underway. He emphasized that any negotiations on this matter would only occur under conditions acceptable to the resistance.

Haniyeh affirmed in a statement that the movement had conveyed this position to all parties involved, pointing out that the people of Gaza once again proved their steadfastness during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

Furthermore, he stressed that the Palestinians are foiling the Israeli occupation's efforts to create divisions between them and their resistance.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Haniyeh affirmed that Operation Al Aqsa flood is orchestrated and executed by Palestinians, adding: “This does not diminish our conviction in the necessity of the participation and engagement in this battle by all the members of our nation, with the forefront being the axis of resistance.”

In the same context, Husam Badran, a Hamas official, said that "the military operation is still continuing… therefore there is currently no chance for negotiation on the issue of prisoners or anything else," citing AFP from Doha.

“Our mission now is to make every effort to prevent the occupation from continuing to commit massacres against our people in Gaza, which directly target civilian homes,” he added.

It is worth noting that recent estimates indicate that the number of Israeli casualties has reached 1,000, and more than 150 Israelis are held as captives by Palestinian resistance, as reported by Israeli media.