Hamas will release all hostages only if there is a permanent ceasefire
Last Updated on February 20, 2025 6:36 am
The Palestinian armed group Hamas has announced a new proposal to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. The organization’s spokesman Hazem Qassem said that all Israeli hostages will be released on the condition of a permanent ceasefire.
Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported this news on Wednesday.
Hamas said that in the second phase, all remaining Israeli hostages will be released together. In exchange, a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza must be agreed. However, Israel has not yet commented on this issue.
Rather, the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s condition in the upcoming talks to extend the second phase of the ceasefire is to disarm Hamas and to have no presence in Gaza.
In addition, the Palestinian Authority will not have any role in the post-war situation in Gaza.
Al Jazeera reported that Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the release of all hostages held by Hamas would only be possible when Israel declares a permanent ceasefire and completely withdraws its troops from the Gaza Strip.
Hazem Qassem also said that Hamas had doubled the number of prisoners released at the request of mediators and claimed that they had been able to prove their commitment to the ceasefire.
Qassem said, “Israel’s claim to remove Hamas from Gaza is ridiculous. It is just a psychological strategy. Resistance will continue, disarmament is not possible in any way.”
He added, “The future of Gaza will be determined by national consensus.”
On Monday night, local time, the Israeli security cabinet discussed the second phase of the ceasefire. It was supposed to start on February 3, but it has not yet started.
Israeli broadcaster Kan News reported that Netanyahu also demanded the complete demilitarization of Gaza. After the meeting, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Tuesday that the second phase of talks would begin “this week.”
This phase would include the release of the remaining hostages, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and an end to the fighting. Indicating Israel’s position in the upcoming talks, Sa’ar warned, “Jerusalem will not accept the presence of Hamas or any other terrorist organization in Gaza.”
However, he said that if the talks made constructive progress, Israel would be interested in extending the period of talks and the ceasefire could be prolonged. “If there are positive aspects in the talks and there is a real possibility of reaching an agreement, we will extend this period,” Sa’ar said.