Hamas says “no chance” hostages will be returned to Israel
Hamas said on January 21 that hostages taken by the group being returned to Israel is off the table following a negotiation collapse with the country, according to The Guardian.
On October 7, the Gaza-controlling militants carried out an unprecedented assault, killing over 1,000 in southern Israel and capturing around 250 people.
A significant proportion have returned home after a truce negotiation breakthrough with Israel at the end of November however recent talks stalled as Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas could not remain in power in the enclave and that the pummeling will not stop.
In response, a Hamas official affirmed that the captives would stay under militant hands.
Sami Abu Zuhrit said the Israeli Prime Minister’s refusal to put a halt to the bombing of Gaza, “means there is no chance for the return of the captives”.
Already under intense pressure, the far-right Israeli Prime Minister has faced angry citizens calling for his resignation over his inability to bring the hostages back to his country, as well as highlighting other scandals, of whom it is believed there are 130 still in Gaza.
READ: Pro-Netanyahu tabloid calls for resignation of under pressure PM
Netanyahu said that Israel would continue their bombing spree in the densely populated Palestinian territory as the Hamas requests included, “the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists and leaving Hamas intact.”
The Prime Minister also insisted,“I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas,”
Not only does he have dwindling approval ratings as the country shifts to the right under his leadership, protesters, many of whom are families of the captives, have started to gather around his Jerusalem-based private house and have said stressed that they would continue surrounding the Netanyahu household until he is successful in negotiating a deal with the Palestinian militants.
With regards to the recent deal snub, advocacy group, Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum pressured the Israeli head to , “clearly state that we will not abandon civilians, soldiers, and others kidnapped in the October debacle”.
“If the Prime Minister decides to sacrifice the hostages, he should show leadership and honestly share his position with the Israeli public.”
In recent times Netanyahu has called for a total destruction of Gaza where over 25,000 have died in just three months as well as denying Palestine’s right to national sovereignty, a stance he reiterated in a phone call with Joe Biden on January 19.
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement just after the discussions, “In his conversation with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that after Hamas is destroyed Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty.”
The Guardian/ New York Post
