“We will make ‘no compromise’ on our demands for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli forces in exchange for any deal to release the hostages,” the Hamas spokesman said.
“Our first priority before any prisoner exchange agreement is to fully guarantee the cessation of the offensive and the withdrawal of the enemy from the Gaza Strip, and there will be no compromise on this,” he added.
Israel is demanding that Hamas provide an accurate list of hostages still alive in Gaza, but the Islamist movement says it does not know who is “dead or alive” among them.
Abu Obeida also called on Palestinians to “mobilize and flock” during Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims, to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, where there are fears of tensions during this period after five months war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt are trying to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities before Ramadan, which begins early next week, but negotiations held this week in Cairo have failed to bear fruit.
US President Joe Biden warned this week of a “very dangerous” situation in Israel and particularly Jerusalem if hostilities continue during Ramadan.
Source: RES-MPE
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