Hamas Ties Hostage Release to Full Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza in Ceasefire Negotiations

Gaza — Hamas has insisted that any deal for the release of Israeli hostages must be directly linked to a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, according to a source familiar with the ongoing indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Egypt.

The Hamas delegation, currently participating in talks in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, demanded that the release of the final Israeli hostage coincide with the full Israeli pullout from Palestinian territories, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official leading the group’s delegation, told Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV on Tuesday that Hamas is prepared “with full responsibility” to end the war. He said the delegation’s primary goal in Egypt is to achieve an immediate and permanent ceasefire and facilitate a comprehensive prisoner-hostage exchange.

Al-Hayya accused Israel of continuing “killing and destruction” and “repeatedly breaking its promises” to halt aggression. He also called for international guarantees to ensure a lasting and complete end to the conflict.

Tuesday marked the second day of the indirect talks between Hamas and Israeli delegations. An Egyptian source said the discussions centered on key issues including a prisoner-hostage swap, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the transfer of governance in the Gaza Strip.

The mediation efforts are being supported by regional powers, with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin expected to join the talks on Wednesday.

Tuesday also marked two years since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, which began on October 7, 2023. The prolonged conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of over 67,000 Palestinians, devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, and triggered a severe humanitarian and famine crisis in the besieged enclave.

With inputs from IANS