Hamas: release of hostages must be linked to full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

DOHA - Hamas has reiterated that any release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip will only be possible if Israel begins withdrawing its troops from the enclave. According to Al Jazeera television, citing a senior source in the movement, the Palestinian delegation in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, insists that the various stages of the hostages' release must be closely linked to the specific stages of the Israeli withdrawal.

"The Hamas delegation demands that each phase of the hostage exchange be linked to a gradual and complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza," a source told Al Jazeera. The second day of the consultations, he said, was devoted entirely to the so-called "roadmaps" for Israeli withdrawal and the timetable for the release of the prisoners.

According to this source, Hamas insists that the last hostage will be released only when the last Israeli soldier leaves Gaza. In addition, the Palestinian side is demanding "international guarantees of a definitive end to the war"to prevent renewed fighting after the Israeli withdrawal.

The Sharm el-Sheikh talks are being facilitated by Egypt and Qatar, with the United States represented by a special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner. The US diplomacy considers this new cycle of talks as a key moment that could open the way for the implementation of the so-called "comprehensive plan" published by the White House on 29 September. This contains twenty points, including the temporary international administration of Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilisation force. Israel has accepted this proposal, and Hamas has subsequently stated that it is prepared to release all living hostages and hand over the bodies of those who have died.

According to Reuters, the negotiations are being conducted in a tense atmosphere, but the first day has brought cautious optimism. A source close to the negotiators confirmed that technical teams were already comparing lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners whose exchange could be part of a wider deal. However, the Israeli government continues to reject a complete withdrawal from Gaza without guarantees that Hamas will lay down its arms and will not be able to threaten Israeli territory again.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Sunday evening that the agreement must include not only a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, but also free access for humanitarian aid, the return of displaced residents and a plan for the post-war reconstruction of Gaza under Palestinian administration. "Without real international guarantees, any agreement will only be a temporary pause in the war," he told Al Jazeera.

Analysts agree that the issue of guarantees is the key obstacle to the whole agreement. Israel rejects the presence of foreign troops on its doorstep, while Hamas is demanding international supervision to give it the assurance that attacks will not resume after the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Washington, meanwhile, is trying to convince both sides that the only way to achieve a long-term ceasefire is through a political agreement to end the war, now in its second year.

gnews.cz - GH