Hamas claims to have offered the release of two Israelis who were captured during its deadly assault on southern Israel on October 7, but Israel’s government reportedly refused to accept them. The announcement was made by Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, who stated that the group had informed Qatar, the mediator, of their intention to release the Israelis. However, Israel’s government dismissed the claim as “mendacious propaganda,” asserting that they will continue to work towards returning all kidnapped and missing individuals home. Qatar, the mediator in Friday’s release of American captives, did not provide an immediate comment on the matter.
According to Khaled al-Qaddoumi, a Hamas spokesman, the Israeli government displayed a lack of seriousness in accepting the offer to release the captives, despite their deteriorating humanitarian conditions. He added that Hamas had hoped to hand them over to their families but was met with refusal from the Israeli government, without any given reason. The captives held by Hamas include women, children, elderly individuals, foreigners who have been advocating for their release, as well as Israeli soldiers.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, expressed hope that all captives, especially civilians, would soon be freed. He mentioned that the release of the American hostages on Friday came after continuous communication with all parties involved. While he did not provide a specific timeline for the release of the remaining captives, al-Ansari stated that efforts were being made to initially release all civilian hostages. It is worth noting that the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the multi-pronged Hamas attack on Israel, resulted in significant casualties, with over 1,400 people killed and thousands wounded. In response, Israel launched intense air attacks on Gaza and imposed a total blockade on the region.
