AhlulBayt News Agency: Hamas Movement said in a statement on Saturday that the rising calls within the occupation state to stop the war and free Israeli captives “confirm Netanyahu’s responsibility for prolonging the war and for the suffering of his prisoners and our people.”
The Israeli prisoners’ families committee called for widespread participation in demonstrations this Saturday evening, on the eve of Passover.
Hamas added that “Gaza Strip’s children and the occupation prisoners are victims of Netanyahu’s ambitions to remain in power and to escape prosecution.”
It emphasized that “the equation has become clear: the release of prisoners in exchange for stopping the war. The world accepts it, but Netanyahu rejects it.”
Hamas stressed that every day of delay means “more killing of unarmed civilians from our people and an uncertain fate for the occupation prisoners.”
The committee of Israeli prisoners’ families stated in a press release on Friday evening that the 59 Israeli prisoners in Gaza Strip are “all hostages” in the hands of the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
They added, “We were promised that the appointment of (Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron) Dermer would lead to progress in negotiations, but it seems that what is happening is the opposite.” They expressed concern over a report from CNN indicating that Dermer’s leadership of the negotiation team is hindering progress, and sent a message to Dermer stating, “Either you return the 59 hostages or you resign.”
CNN reported that a source involved in the negotiations said that Netanyahu’s exclusion of professional military experts in favor of Dermer aims to give him greater control over the negotiations.
Netanyahu and his government insist, contrary to most families and relatives of the prisoners, that increasing military pressure is the only way to force Hamas to return the living and dead prisoners still held in the Gaza Strip.
At the beginning of March, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel ended. This agreement began on January 19, 2025, mediated by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. support.
While Hamas adhered to the terms of the first phase, Netanyahu (wanted by international justice) reneged on starting the second phase in response to the extremists in his ruling coalition.
On March 18, Israel resumed its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of more than 166,000 Palestinians, most of whom are children and women, with over 14,000 missing.
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