Hamas says no more Israeli hostages will be released until a “full cessation of aggression” has been agreed.
Israel claims to have killed over 2,000 Hamas fighters since a temporary truce was agreed earlier this month. While the group – which controls the Gaza strip – freed 100 hostages, reports the BBC.
Around 120 people are reportedly being held in captivity in Gaza after being abducted on October 7. It comes as the United Nations attempts to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire.
The United States however says it has “serious concerns” over the draft resolution. A week-long truce earlier this month brought an increased flow of aid into Gaza, however the UN wards it faces a risk of famine if the war continues.
Negotiations have been taking place to secure a new truce. Although talks on Wednesday came to no fruition.
In a statement, Hamas said: “There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk about prisoners or exchange deals except after a full cessation of aggression.”
It remains unclear which other Palestinian groups Hamas refers to. Although the Islamic Jihad, a smaller organisation in the Gaza Strip, is believed to be holding Israeli hostages.
Hamas has left Bejamin Netanyahu’s Israel in a difficult position. It has said the best way to get Hamas to release hostages is military pressure and rescue operations.
The approach has not really yielded much success, with only one hostage rescued. Meanwhile Israel faces pressure from relatives of hostages to secure their release.
Hamas continues to put pressure on Israel to stop the war altogether. But, without guarantee it will stop its military actions, the Israeli government remains reluctant, believing it has the ability to combat Hamas’ operation.
The people of Gaza will also been keen for the war to stop. Israel claims it has killed 2,000 Hamas members this mont, while the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says more than 20,000 people – including 8,000 children and 6,200 women – have died since October 7.
The October date is when Hamas broke through the perimeter with Israel, killing 1,200 people in a surprise attack.
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