The Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, issued a statement asserting that a ceasefire and the removal of Israeli forces from Gaza are imperative prerequisites for any potential prisoner exchange agreement.
According to reports from the Xinhua news agency, the spokesperson for the Brigades, Abu Ubaydah, underscored the non-negotiable nature of these stipulations during the Friday statement.
Ubaydah condemned what he perceived as deceptive tactics employed by the Israeli government throughout the negotiation process, characterizing it as fraught with "confusion and bewilderment."
Additionally, Ubaydah drew attention to the dire circumstances faced by Gaza's populace, particularly children grappling with malnutrition. He noted that individuals held captive by Hamas are also adversely affected by the precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza, with some experiencing illness due to insufficient access to food and medicine.
Hamas disclosed on Thursday that its delegation had departed from Cairo to confer with the movement's leadership regarding ceasefire talks. The organization reaffirmed its dedication to negotiations geared towards halting hostilities, aiding displaced persons, and delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza's inhabitants.
Ongoing discussions in Egypt involve representatives from Qatar, the United States, and Hamas, with the shared objective of brokering a ceasefire in Gaza before the onset of Ramadan, which commences around March 10 this year.
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