GAZA (Dispatches) – Palestinian
resistance movement Hamas has stressed that its military wing al-Qassam Brigades will not release Zionist captives without ‘an honorable swap’.
In a statement, Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qasem, said, “Palestinian resistance is able to release prisoners. It has previously proved that and proved its creative ability to use different tools and means.”
He added, “The video published by al-Qassam for one of the Zionist captives in its hands emphasizes Hamas’ seriousness regarding the issue of the prisoners, as well as Hamas’ persistence on reaching a prisoner swap.”
Qasem blamed “consecutive Zionist cabinets for the procrastination and intentional disinformation of the Zionist regime regarding the health conditions of the Israeli captives at the hands of al-Qassam Brigades.”
Al-Qassam has been holding four Zionist captives since 2014 and 2015. Early this week, it published a video clip of one of them, Avera Mengistu, wondering: “Until when I will remain here along with my colleagues? … Where is the state and people of Israel?”
The occupying regime seeks the help of Pope Francis to free the Zionists held in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media.
Zionist foreign minister Eli Cohen sent a letter to the pontiff to seek his intervention to free the four captives in the Palestinian territory, Israeli Channel 14 reported.
Cohen also sent letters to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, president of the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom and other UN officials.
Last month, Pope Francis met with the families of the four captives and promised to help for their return.
At least 4,600 Palestinians are held by the Zionist regime, according to Palestinian estimates.
The Egyptian mediators between Hamas and the Zionist regime renewed their willingness to continue the past effort to reach a prisoner exchange deal.
According to the Lebanese newspaper, Al-Akhbar, Hamas recently confirmed, during contact with the Egyptians, its willingness to resume the exchange negotiations at where they ended. This would allow the implementation of the first phase of the deal, represented in the release of the Zionist soldiers, Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed, in addition to information about the other two soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul. This is in exchange for the release of the prisoners who had been released as part of the Wafaa Al-Ahrar deal who were re-arrested, as well as women, children, ill, martyrs and long-serving prisoners.