Hamas Accuses Israel of the Deaths of Prisoners
Khalil Al-Hayya. Photo: X/ @iranmilitary_en
September 2, 2024 Hour: 9:58 am
The Hamas representative criticized Israeli PM Netanyahu’s preference for military aggression over dialogue.
Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior member of Hamas and head of its negotiation team, accused Israel of being responsible for the deaths of six Israeli prisoners in Gaza. He also pointed out that some of the deceased prisoners were victims of airstrikes and gunfire from Israeli forces.
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In statements to the Qatari multimedia outlet Al-Jazeera, Al-Hayya asserted that these deaths could have been avoided through a prisoner exchange agreement, but the Israeli government’s insistence on carrying out military actions put their lives in danger.
“The last Israeli proposal was presented on May 27. It was submitted by the Israeli occupation and adopted word for word by U.S. President Joe Biden. The United States also took it to the Security Council, where it was adopted. Hamas welcomed the principles outlined by Biden and the Security Council’s decision. We were expecting an opportunity to reach an agreement. We agreed to talk,” said Al-Hayya.
The Hamas representative also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s preference for military aggression over dialogue, mentioning that the Israeli government prioritized strategic objectives over the lives of the prisoners.
Al-Hayya stated that despite previous negotiations that led to the release of more than 115 Israelis and foreigners through Qatari mediation in November and December of 2023, Israel has rejected significant proposals for new prisoner exchanges. He argued that a genuine agreement could have saved lives on both sides, preventing an escalation in violence.
Al-Hayya mentioned the case of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli prisoner whose family, supported by Qatari intermediaries, requested a video to confirm he was still alive. Hamas responded to this request and provided a video message, but shortly afterward, they lost contact with the prisoner due to an Israeli attack. Goldberg-Polin is among the deceased, which demonstrates Israel’s disregard for the lives involved.
The Hamas representative also criticized the role of the U.S. in the process, claiming that Washington has obstructed the negotiations, noting that despite indirect talks facilitated by intermediaries, the U.S. retracted its proposals. He also accused Israel of repeatedly changing its conditions, making it difficult to progress toward an agreement.
Nevertheless, Al-Hayya indicated that Hamas remains willing to negotiate a fair prisoner exchange, reducing the number of Palestinian prisoners demanded in exchange for Israeli soldiers and civilians. Unfortunately, however, Israel has not reciprocated.
Finally, he noted that the current negotiations have not shown significant progress, describing them as a stalling tactic. In this regard, he claimed that Israel is deliberately disrupting the process by introducing new conditions that do not align with previous agreements, a situation for which he called on the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to comply with the agreed terms.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: Al Jazeera -. Quds News
