Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has announced its willingness to release its prisoners in exchange for the freedom of all Palestinians jailed by Israel. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out negotiations, instead opting for a military offensive against the Gaza Strip. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 9,000 Palestinians, including over 3,700 children.
Hamas initially claimed to have held 200 to 250 captives, with approximately 200 still in their custody. However, the Israeli army reports that there are 240 captives, including Israeli soldiers, civilians, and foreigners. While Israeli authorities have not released the names of the captives, it is believed that a significant number are military officers.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader, stated that the group considers all captives to be Israeli citizens, regardless of their original nationality. This stance has led to appeals from various countries, including Russia, the United States, France, and many others, for the release of their citizens. Thailand is currently in talks with Iran, an ally of Hamas, to secure the release of 23 of its citizens held in Gaza. Germany, Argentina, and the Netherlands have also confirmed that their citizens are among the captives.
Hamas claims that an unspecified number of Israeli captives are being held by civilian residents in the Gaza Strip. They also stated that they need time to locate and classify these captives, with the intention of eventually releasing those who do not hold Israeli nationality. So far, four captives have been released through diplomatic negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt.
Israel has seen a significant increase in the number of Palestinian prisoners in its jails since the conflict began, with the current count surpassing 10,000. This includes 4,000 laborers from Gaza who were detained after working in Israel. Concerns have been raised by rights groups over the disappearance of thousands of other Gazan Palestinians working in Israel, suggesting they may also be in detention.
In response to the situation, the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has announced that it will release some foreign captives from Gaza in the coming days. However, Israeli families are growing increasingly frustrated and worried about the fate of their loved ones, especially during the ongoing bombings in Gaza. They are demanding a full prisoner swap.
While Netanyahu has not committed to any deal, he has assured the families that every effort will be made to bring the captives home. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has emphasized the need for military pressure on Hamas to force them to negotiate. He believes that increased firepower and strikes against Hamas will lead to a solution that allows for the return of the captives.
