The acting leader of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, stated today that there will be no agreement with Israel on a hostage exchange involving Palestinian prisoners unless the war in the Palestinian enclave ends.
“Without an end to the war, there can be no hostage exchange,” al-Hayya said in an interview with Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV, aired today, reiterating Hamas’s position on how the war could conclude.
“If the aggression does not stop, why should the resistance, and particularly Hamas, return the prisoners (hostages)?” he said. “How could anyone, whether rational or irrational, give up a strong card they hold while the war continues?”
Al-Hayya, who has led Hamas’s negotiating team in talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, blamed the lack of progress on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who in turn holds Hamas responsible for the deadlock in negotiations.
“Contacts are ongoing with some countries and mediators to revive this issue (negotiations). We are ready to continue these efforts, but it is more important to see real will from the occupation to end the aggression,” al-Hayya stated.
“The reality shows that Netanyahu is the one undermining the negotiations,” he added.
During a visit to Gaza on Tuesday, Netanyahu declared that Hamas would not govern the Palestinian enclave after the war and claimed that Israel had destroyed the Islamist group’s military capabilities.
Netanyahu also reiterated that Israel remains committed to locating the 101 remaining hostages believed to be in Gaza, offering a $5 million reward for each hostage returned to Israel.
Hamas seeks an agreement that would end the war, release Israeli and foreign hostages held in Gaza, and free Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Netanyahu, however, has vowed that the war will only end once Hamas is eliminated.
Also read: Hamas calls the US a “partner” in the “genocide” of Palestinians by Israel
Source: ANA-MPA
