Hamas representative Husam Badran has dismissed claims of ongoing negotiations with Israel for a prisoner exchange. The Palestinian movement is currently focused on protecting its people by engaging in combat with the Israeli army, Badran stated. This contradicts reports from the Chinese news agency Xinhua, which suggested that Qatar is acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas to facilitate an urgent agreement on the exchange of prisoners.
On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale operation known as the “Flood of Al-Aqsa,” firing thousands of rockets into Israeli territory. In response, Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, declared a state of emergency in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel is currently in a state of war. The Israeli Defense Forces have named their operation against Hamas “Iron Swords,” and have targeted 21 Hamas facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has been a longstanding adversary of Israel, with tensions between the two parties escalating in recent years. The Israeli government has vowed to dismantle Hamas and ensure the safety of its citizens. The ongoing conflict has sparked international concern, with calls for a peaceful resolution to the violence. However, Hamas’ denial of negotiations for a prisoner exchange suggests that a resolution may be difficult to achieve in the near future.
