Leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar proposed this Saturday to release all hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners held in prison in the Gaza Strip. Israel.

“We are ready to immediately conclude an agreement on the exchange of prisoners, which including the release of all our prisoners in your prisons in exchange for the release of all prisoners held by the resistance,” Sinwar said, as quoted by Israeli media.

Sinwar thus aligns himself with the position expressed this Saturday by Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, although Sinwar’s intervention This is especially true since this is his first public appearance. since the beginning of the current conflict. Of the 230 hostages taken by Hamas, four have been released and dozens are believed to be in the hands of Islamic Jihad rather than Hamas.

Israeli Armed Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari described Sinwar’s words as “psychological terrorism cynically used by Hamas to exert pressure.”

“Nothing is being discussed regarding the kidnapped people. Sinvar can’t say anything. Speak through intermediaries. Hamas does not communicate directly with Israel and we will continue to do everything possible to free the hostages,” he added, according to the Israeli newspaper.Yedioth Ahronot‘.

Another military source quoted by the newspaper assures that “Hamas doesn’t want an agreement. You don’t have to believe what they say. They want to postpone the ground operation. That is why we decided to expand our activities. “It was a unanimous decision of the entire government.”

“The working hypothesis is that only when Hamas feels the sword at its throat will it want to reach an agreement. They understand that Israel has red lines and that there is no chance that Israel will empty its prisons. “That won’t happen,” he said.

However, “we understand that there’s a price we have to pay, but we are not going to break.” “The families of the hostages understand that the decisive moment is approaching. “We have to get to the point where there is an agreement on the table and the next step is approval,” he added.

Two Mexicans Ilana Gritsevski and Orion Hernandez, They have been held hostage by Hamas armed groups since October 7 last year. The Mexican government said it was doing “everything in its power” to free its compatriots.

(according to information from Europa Press and Aristegui News)