Hamas Warns No Hostages Will Leave Gaza Alive Without Prisoner Releases
In a televised statement, Hamas issued a warning on Sunday, stating that no hostages would leave Gaza alive unless its demands for prisoner releases are met. The senior Hamas official, Bassem Neim, had previously stated that the movement was willing to release all soldiers in exchange for the release of all their prisoners. Israel claims that there are still 137 hostages in Gaza, while activists argue that around 7,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli jails.
The conflict between Hamas and Israel was triggered by an attack on October 7, which resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures. Hamas then took around 240 hostages back to Gaza. In response, Israel launched a relentless military offensive that has caused significant destruction and claimed the lives of at least 17,997 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The Israeli army reported striking over 250 targets within a 24-hour period, including a Hamas military communications site, underground tunnel shafts in southern Gaza, and a Hamas military command center in Shejaiya. The army also stated that 98 soldiers have died and around 600 have been wounded during the Gaza campaign. National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi claimed that approximately 7,000 “terrorists” have been killed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the collapsing health system in Gaza. Only 14 out of 36 hospitals are currently functioning at any capacity. The UN estimates that 1.9 million out of Gaza’s 2.4 million population have been displaced, with half of them being children. AFP visited the bombed-out ruins of Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital and found at least 30,000 people seeking refuge amid the rubble after Israeli forces raided the medical facility last month. The dire situation has left residents without electricity, water, flour, bread, and medicine for sick children.
The United States’ blocking of a cease-fire resolution on Friday severely undermined the authority and credibility of the Security Council, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Qatar, where Hamas’s top leadership is based, is still working on a new truce similar to the week-long cease-fire mediated last month. However, Israel’s continuous bombardment is narrowing the window for success, said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has rejected a cease-fire, stating that it would perpetuate the problem as long as Hamas remains intact. However, he also emphasized the need for Israeli forces to prioritize civilian protection.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, expressed alarm over the potential mass expulsion of Palestinians into Egypt. However, an Israeli spokesman denied any plans to move Gaza residents to Egypt. The conflict in Gaza has sparked pro-Palestinian protests worldwide, including gatherings in Morocco, Denmark, and Turkey. There have also been demonstrations against anti-Semitism, such as the one in Brussels where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen helped light a Hanukkah menorah candelabrum.
There are concerns about regional escalation due to frequent cross-border exchanges between Israel and Lebanese militants, as well as attacks by pro-Iran groups against US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria. Late on Sunday, Israeli strikes reportedly hit targets near the capital Damascus in Syria. The Syrian air defense systems were able to deter some attacks, resulting in limited losses. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the bombings targeted Lebanese Hezbollah sites near the Damascus International Airport.
In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened to attack any vessels heading to Israel unless more aid was allowed into Gaza. France announced that one of its frigates in the Red Sea had shot down two drones launched from Yemen.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the ongoing conflict causing immense suffering for the civilian population. The international community continues to call for a cease-fire and urgent humanitarian aid to alleviate the crisis.