Hamas conditions new hostage exchange on end of Israeli “aggression” in Gaza

2023-12-21 21:06:13

The possibility of a new ceasefire between Hamas and Israel it moves away. While she Gaza Strip suffers from the intensification of bombings, Palestinian armed groups have rejected any talk of prisoner and captive exchanges until end Israeli “aggression” to Gaza, according to a statement published by Hamas. In turn, Israel has announced the death of three new soldiers, raising the number of fallen recruits to 137 since the beginning of the ground operation. In northern Israel, the intensification of attacks by the Lebanese militia Hezbollah has caused the evacuation of at least 14 communities and the closure of roads.

“There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk of prisoners or exchange agreements except after a total cessation of aggression,” reads the statement from the Palestinian group that de facto governs the Strip. The position, which has been previously expressed by Hamas, It comes in the midst of intense talks for a possible agreement that would allow the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, as occurred in the last ceasefire. The group already affirms that it will not accept a temporary truce. “Some people are looking for a small pause, a break here and there for a week, two weeks, three weeks, but we want to stop the aggression [por completo]“said the senior Hamas official, Ghazi Hamada Al Jazeera.

Referring to what happened after the only truce that has taken place in 76 days of war, Hamad pointed out that “Israel will take the hostage card and then begin a new round of mass murders and massacres” against the Palestinian people. “We will not play this game,” he concluded. This Wednesday, the leader of the political arm of Hamas, Ismail HaniyehI travel to Cairo to join the dialogue, in which, for the first time, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad It also has representation. They are the second largest fighting force inside Gaza and they also hold some captives, so they are part of these discussions.

“Disturbing information”

There, in the Palestinian enclave, the fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militiamen. The Hebrew Army has announced the death of three recruitsaged 19, 20 and 21, raising the number of those killed in the ground offensive to 137. Israeli military spokesmen have also celebrated having taken the control of several neighborhoods keys of the Gaza city. In the of Rimal, is the center of the political, administrative and military power of the Palestinian group and the core of its extensive network of tunnels, connecting official buildings with residences of senior officials of the group, according to the Army. The neighborhood of Shejaiyawhere they have established total “operational control”, has been the scene of the fiercest fighting.

In Gaza, the situation collapse reaches the entire territory. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that only nine of the 36 health centers They continue to function partially throughout the enclave. The remaining nine are in the south, where the bombings also continue. Israel has ordered the “immediate evacuation“ about 20% of the areas in Khan Yunis, in the south, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Furthermore, the UN has confirmed having received “disturbing information” that Israeli soldiers “killed summarily” at least 11 unarmed Palestinian men in front of their families in Gaza City. In the north, medical personnel continue to report the siege of ambulance centers and the difficulties in treating the wounded under constant bombardment.

Postponed vote

Far from the Israeli attacks, members of the Security Council The United Nations continues to negotiate a resolution related to the Gaza war after three postponements. Initially, the text called for a ceasefire but, to prevent USA will veto it, the different actors have been in talks for days to get a text that doesn’t bother you to none of the 15 members and that has come to focus on the humanitarian aid that will enter the enclave. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Ayman Safadi, has said the draft seeks to speed up aid shipments to Gaza that the Hashemite kingdom believes Israel is obstructing to prevent enough life-saving aid from reaching it. Beyond the 20,000 confirmed deaths in two and a half months of war against Gaza, there are at least 6,900 people missing under the rubble.

To the north of Israel, the clashes between Hezbollah and the Hebrew Army that have caused more evacuations. The Upper Galilee Regional Council has announced its decision to close the gates of 14 kibbutzim in northern Israel until further notice, as well as several roads. “Hezbollah, with relatively simple resources, disables all life here,” they said in a statement. Also, in the Occupied West Bankthe Israeli Army has continued its night raids in at least 14 cities and towns different that have resulted in the arrest of dozens of Palestinians.