No prisoner exchange until aggression on Gaza ends: Hamas official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
3 Dec 2023 00:27
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Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Hamas official Zaher Jabarin addresses several points regarding the aggression on Gaza and reiterates the movement's position on key issues.

Senior Hamas official, Zaher Jabarin, speaks to Al Mayadeen TV during an interview held on December 2, 2023. (Archive)

A member of the Hamas movement political bureau, who is the head of the detainees, wounded, and martyrs files in the Hamas movement, Zaher Jabarin, called on all world powers to end the occupation of the land of Palestine and al-Quds, during an interview for Al Mayadeen.

"We are ready to pay the price for freedom, and we will not accept anything less than our independence," the senior Hamas official emphasized.

On the prisoners-captives exchange negotiations headed by Qatar, Jabarin told Al Mayadeen that "efforts have not been halted, and [Qataris] are working to curb the Israeli aggression against Gaza."

He also revealed that the movement had acquired information that indicated that the Israeli occupation would renew its aggression on the Gaza Strip following the exchange of civilian Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons.

Jabarin said the movement will work to achieve the "sovereign demands" of its people, adding that they are currently battling for the liberation of Palestinians.

In this context, the senior official confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the movement offered to hand over all elderly captives, over the age of 60, in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners of the same demographic. He also reiterated that "there will be no prisoner exchange [deal] as long as the Israeli aggression on Gaza continues."

On this point, Jabarin said the "ruling class in the Zionist entity has [direct interest] in extending the aggression against Gaza, because once it stops," Israeli officials will be pushed out of office and "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be imprisoned," due to the occupation's failure to prevent the events that unfolded on October 7, which constituted an "intelligence failure at all security, political, and military levels."

Jabarin stressed that Israeli officials will be heading "to the ash heap of history."

Jabarin addresses regional developments

The Hamas official, through Al Mayadeen, saluted the Resistance in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, calling on all Arab and Islamic countries to engage in the fight against the Israeli occupation.

"An Arab country receiving the President of the Zionist entity, at this time, weighs heavily on us, and it is irrational," Jabarin explained, in reference to Isaac Herzog's visit to the United Arab Emirates.

On another note, Jabarin slammed US Vice President, Kamala Harris, who said Hamas should be uprooted from Gaza, saying, "If she wants to uproot Hamas, she must uproot 75% of the Palestinian people."

On the buffer zone that the occupation seeks to establish in the Gaza Strip, after its harrowing October 7 defeat, Jabarin said the movement "will thwart any attempt to establish a buffer zone in Gaza," stressing that there can be "no security solution to the Palestinian" cause.

Earlier on Saturday, Reuters revealed that "Israel" informed several Arab countries of its desire to establish a buffer zone inside the Gaza Strip after its war on the Strip ends, citing its wish to prevent any future attacks.

According to sources, "Israel" has communicated its plans to Egypt and Jordan, as well as the UAE. Additionally, Saudi Arabia, which has not established official ties with "Israel", has been informed, along with Turkey.

The governments of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey have not responded to Reuters' requests for comments. Attempts to reach Jordanian officials for comments were unsuccessful, according to the news agency.