GAZA CITY: Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group, has affirmed its commitment to the ongoing four-day truce agreement and expressed its willingness to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli jails.
Ghazi Hammad, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, emphasized the group’s dedication to halting Israeli aggression against their people and stopping what he referred to as “genocide” against Palestinian people in Gaza.
Hammad condemned the role of the United States in the conflict, accusing it of being a partner in Israel’s actions against innocent Palestinians. He stated that the US has consistently supported Israel, describing it as a partner in “ethnic cleansing.”
In terms of negotiations, Hammad clarified that Hamas is interested in releasing all civilians, regardless of their nationality, highlighting the group’s commitment to humanitarian considerations.
Meanwhile, Egypt, acting as a mediator, received lists of 13 Israelis and 39 Palestinians scheduled for release on the third day of the four-day truce. The truce, brokered by Egypt and Qatar, aims to facilitate the exchange of hostages and humanitarian aid, with 120 aid trucks, including fuel and cooking gas, crossing from Egypt to Gaza on the same day.
However, amid the truce, a Palestinian farmer was killed, and another was injured by Israeli forces in the Maghazi refugee camp in the center of Gaza, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Hamas Expected to Release Third Group of Israeli Hostages
Hamas is expected to release a third group of Israeli hostages today in exchange for Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jail. The latest swap on Saturday, however, experienced hours of delay as Hamas accused Israel of breaching the deal that led to a four-day ceasefire in the seven-week-old war in Gaza. Despite the dispute, Hamas eventually released 13 Israelis and four Thai hostages during the night. In response, Israel confirmed the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the truce agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Since October 7, Israel has carried out air, artillery, and naval bombardments alongside a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of nearly 15,000 Palestinians, primarily civilians, and thousands of children, according to the government in Gaza.
