Hamas captured about 210 folks throughout its lethal assault in southern Israel on October 7 and they’re being held in unknown areas inside Gaza.
Hamas says it supplied to launch two Israelis captured throughout its lethal raid however Israel’s authorities refused to take them. Israel described the declare as “mendacious propaganda”.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, mentioned that the mediator Qatar was informed of the group’s intention to launch the Israelis on Friday, the identical day it freed Americans Judith Tai Ranaan and her daughter Natalie.
“We knowledgeable our Qatari brothers yesterday night that we might be releasing Nourit Yitshaq and Yokhefed Lifshitz for humanitarian causes and with out anticipating something in return. Nevertheless, the Israeli occupation authorities refused to just accept them,” Obeida mentioned on Telegram on Saturday.
Hamas captured about 210 folks throughout its lethal assault in southern Israel on October 7 and they’re being held in unknown areas inside Gaza.
In a quick assertion, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned: “We is not going to discuss with false propaganda by Hamas. We are going to proceed to behave in each approach to return all of the kidnapped and lacking folks residence.”
Qatar, which helped mediate Friday’s launch, had no fast remark.
In a later assertion, Obeida mentioned Hamas was nonetheless able to free the 2 folks on Sunday “utilizing the identical procedures” concerned within the launch of the Individuals.
‘Refused to take them’
Hamas spokesman Khaled al-Qaddoumi informed Al Jazeera the Israeli authorities “was not critical” concerning the launch of the captives.
“We’ve supplied handy over these captives who’re in extreme humanitarian situation for solely humanitarian causes. We needed handy them over to their households however the authorities just isn’t critical. Sadly, the federal government of Israel refused to take them.”
Al-Qaddoumi mentioned Israel offered no cause for not accepting the provide.
These held by Hamas embrace ladies, kids, the aged, folks from different international locations – who’ve been working for his or her launch – and Israeli troopers.
Akiva Eldar, an Israeli political analyst, writer and journalist, mentioned if Hamas needs to launch hostages, it might hand them over to teams such because the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross, or allow them to cross into Egypt.
“If it’s not a part of a quid professional quo or something that Israel has to present in return, then it’s quite simple – similar to they allowed the 2 Americans to cross the border with the help of the Crimson Cross,” he famous.
‘Very quickly’ hostages will likely be free
A spokesperson for Qatar’s international ministry mentioned the discharge of the American hostages on Friday got here after “many days of steady communication with all events”.
Majed al-Ansari, a international ministry spokesman, informed the German Welt am Sonntag newspaper Qatar is hopeful that every one the captives will quickly be freed.
“I can’t promise you it will occur at the moment or tomorrow or after tomorrow. However we’re taking a path that can very quickly result in launch of the hostages, particularly civilians,” mentioned al-Ansari.
“We’re presently engaged on an settlement below which all civilian hostages will likely be initially launched.”
The multi-pronged Hamas assault on Israel, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, killed greater than 1,400 folks, principally civilians, and wounded about 3,500 others on October 7.
Israel responded with intense air assaults on Gaza, levelling once-densely populated neighbourhoods and imposing a complete blockade on the enclave. Almost 4,400 folks in Gaza have been killed and 13,500 wounded in two weeks of combating.
With forces massed on the barrier with Gaza, Israel has threatened a floor invasion to “destroy Hamas”.