US officials do not believe this is time for Gaza ceasefire
3 Min Read
The occupation’s Energy Minister says that “Israel” will not delay a potential ground invasion of Gaza due to the issue of captives held there.
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US President Joe Biden speaks during an event on the economy, from the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
US President Joe Biden said on Monday that any discussions about a Gaza ceasefire could only take place if the Palestinian Resistance releases all captives that were held in its October 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
"We should have those hostages released and then we can talk," Biden said at a White House event when asked if he would support a "hostages-for-ceasefire" deal.
His comments came shortly after Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, confirmed the release of two Israeli captives for "compelling humanitarian and medical reasons" as a result of an Egyptian-Qatari mediation.
Footage from al-Qassam Brigades' release of two captured elderly Israeli settlers.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 23, 2023
One can clearly see the disparity in the treatment of captives and prisoners between the #Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, respectively. pic.twitter.com/JbcyJOeH2F
This comes despite the dire humanitarian situation that Palestinians in Gaza are subjected to due to the ongoing US-backed Israeli aggression on the completely besieged Strip, with minimal aid received through the Rafah crossing and more than 5,000 Gazans martyred as a result of the aggression so far.
On his part, White House national security spokesperson, John Kirby, told CNN that the United States does not “believe that this is the time for a ceasefire," claiming that the Israeli occupation has a right to defend themselves. They still have work to do to go after Hamas leadership."
The medical staff at the Indonesian Hospital in #Gaza is using their phones' flashlights to receive victims of Israeli aggression amid a power outage caused by the occupation's ban on the entry of fuel to the Strip. #GazaGenocide#GazaUnderAttack#Palestine pic.twitter.com/pz3DpcJDu8
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 24, 2023
The Israeli occupation on Monday increased the number of confirmed captives by the Palestinian Resistance to 222.
However, the occupation’s Energy Minister Israel Katz said that “Israel” will not delay a potential ground invasion of Gaza due to the issue of captives held there.
Katz told the German tabloid newspaper Bild in an interview published Tuesday that every effort would be made to bring the captives, "but that cannot hinder our actions including the ground offensive, if we decide on it.”
"Hamas wants us to deal with the captives and wants the military to not go in to eliminate their infrastructure. That will not happen," he indicated.
On October 16, Abu Obeida estimated that there were approximately 200 to 250 captives or more, with 200 of them being held by al-Qassam Brigades. He also noted that the ruthless aggression on buildings and homes without prior warning has resulted in the death of 22 captives so far.
Abu Obeida revealed that the Resistance is holding captives of different nationalities, adding that there was no opportunity to verify their identities amid Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, vowing to keep them safe and treat them well, keeping in mind the indiscriminate Israeli strikes and shelling on Gaza.
Read more: US ignores calls for ceasefire; justifies Israeli crimes
