Hamas rejects Israel’s offer to free 1,500 prisoners for release of hostages – report

Hamas has refused any hostage deal that that doesn’t include Israel agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza.

By World Israel News Staff

Hamas has refused Israel’s offer to free 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of all of the Israeli hostages, according to a Saudi media report.

The hostage negotiations have reached a stalemate because of Hamas’s demands which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called “delusional” and involve many non-starters for Israel.

The original hostage deal negotiated in Paris last month by the US, Qatar, Egypt and Israel involved a pause in fighting during which Hamas would release hostages in stages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas responded that it would only accept a hostage deal on condition that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire and to withdraw all IDF troops from the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Hamas demanded the release of 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were serving life sentences for the murder of Israelis.

Prime Minister Netanyahu called the deal “delusional” and said that military pressure and holding firm in negotiations were the best strategies for releasing the hostages.

“As of now, we have freed 112 of our hostages in a combination of strong military pressure and tough negotiations. This is also the key to freeing more of our hostages: Strong military pressure and very tough negotiations,” he added.

Last week, two hostages were freed by the IDF in a daring mission in Rafah.

“Soldiers from the IDF’s elite Yamam force shielded the hostages with their bodies from the moment they entered the civilian apartment in southern Gazan city of Rafah,” IDF Spokesperson Rr.-Adm. Daniel Hagari said.

“Yamam forces shielded Louis and Fernando with their bodies, initiating a daring battle and heavy exchanges of fire at several locations simultaneously, with many terrorists,” he said.

The operation was carried out under the cover of dozens of IAF airstrikes against the terror group’s Shabura battalion which served as a decoy for the rescue mission.