The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced today, Monday, that the release of those it holds will require a concrete end to the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of all invading forces. This statement comes as Hamas reaffirms its position following a meeting between Israel and Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Samy Abu Zuhri, head of Hamas's political bureau abroad, told Reuters, "The success of the meeting in Paris depends on the extent to which the occupation responds to cease the overall aggression on Gaza."
A Palestinian official familiar with the mediation talks, who requested anonymity, noted that Hamas's signing of an agreement based on the ceasefire in November, during which dozens of hostages were released, requires Israel's agreement to end the assault and withdraw from the Gaza Strip, although implementation may not necessarily be immediate.
He added that the agreement must be approved by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. These countries dispatched high-level envoys to discuss the hostage crisis in Gaza with senior Israeli intelligence officials on Sunday. It remains unclear whether, if this condition is met, Hamas will release all hostages or some of them. Israel claims that 132 hostages still remain in Gaza. Hamas has previously stated that the release of all hostages in its possession would require Israel to release thousands of Palestinians detained for security reasons in its prisons.
