Video- ‘zionist israel must return every prisoner’
A Hamas representative says that all prisoners must be released by the zionist israeli occupiers who have absolutely no legal authority to operate on Palestinian lands.
In an exclusive interview with Press TV, Ossama Hamdan, representative of Hamas, elaborates more on the Palestinian-israeli prisoner swap deal.
Press TV: Tell us about the importance of today’s swap.
Hamdan: In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
I think the most important and most significant thing in this swap is that this operation took place on Palestinian land, totally, from the capture of the israeli soldiers until the release of the prisoners.
Another significant point in this is that this exchange has taken place between the resistance and the occupation in a very clear political move that only the resistance can achieve for the Palestinians.
I have to say, also, that 315 of the released prisoners have committed militant actions against the occupation by themselves, which is very significant in this Palestinian and israeli exchange of prisoners.
Press TV: Also, why the wait, after almost two months, to release the rest of the prisoners?
Hamdan: Well, if I understand that, the israelis were not able to release the prisoners easily. They tried their best to get their soldiers back without releasing any Palestinians, either through a militant operation or through a direct political action. It didn’t work.
The Palestinians were clear when they negotiated with the israelis by saying they will be committed to release all the prisoners. So, it’s better for the israeli side to release all the Palestinian prisoners, otherwise this will push the Palestinians to have more israeli soldiers, and another exchange may take place.
I think when they insisted to keep some of the Palestinians in the jails, they are giving the Palestinians another chance to make another swap after a while.
Press TV: Do you think this will be the beginning of many more Palestinians to be released?
Hamdan: I think this will be the beginning, God willing. And, everyone understands. I wish everyone heard what the Palestinian prisoners have said at the moment when they were released. They were saying clearly that the only way to release their friends who are still in the jails is to capture more soldiers, to have their brothers and sisters in the jails back.
It is now clear, more than ever for the Palestinians. And the only way to achieve this target, to have all the prisoners back, is to capture more soldiers and to negotiate in order to release the Palestinian prisoners.
