Islamic Jihad Declares Israeli Hostages Will Remain in Custody Until Conflict Ceases

Mohammad al-Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, declared that the release of any Israeli captives is contingent upon Israel ceasing its military operations and bringing an end to the alleged genocide in Gaza.

During a press briefing, al-Hindi emphasized the resistance’s inclination towards an “all-for-all” prisoner exchange agreement. However, he also acknowledged the Movement’s willingness to consider a phased approach to implementing a comprehensive and well-defined deal.

He charged that Israel is attempting to utilize negotiations as a means to recover captives without bringing the conflict to a close, and accused it of deliberately burdening mediators from Egypt and Qatar with impractical and obstructive demands to hinder progress.

Al-Hindi emphasized that efforts to disarm the resistance would effectively lead to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, a result that both the resistance and the Palestinian populace firmly oppose.

He characterized Israel’s insistence on dismantling the resistance as the main barrier to negotiations, while dismissing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s assertions of defeating Hamas and enforcing surrender as sheer fantasy.

Al-Hindi issued a cautionary statement highlighting that while the incidents in Gaza and the West Bank might initially seem like tactical successes for Netanyahu’s objectives, they actually mask more profound and perilous repercussions that are yet to unfold.

The Hamas Movement has restated its stance against partial accords, emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive ceasefire agreement. This proposed deal should incorporate a post-conflict plan and provide assurances for a complete and enduring cessation of Israeli hostilities.

Israel’s prolonged military operations in Gaza have persisted for more than 581 days, with human rights organizations characterizing these actions as efforts of genocide and ethnic cleansing. Following the breakdown of a tenuous ceasefire on March 18, Israel has intensified its military campaign, implementing tactics such as starvation and the closing of border crossings as part of its strategic approach.