Hamas statement on foreign hostages

In his video message, Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubeyde spoke of Israeli and foreign prisoners held in the Gaza Strip, which is under the Israeli blockade.

Abu Ubeyde said they informed the intermediaries that they would soon release some of the foreign captives they were holding, at the request of several countries, because they did not want to keep them in Gaza.

“IMPOSSIBLE”

Abu Ubeyde denied Israel’s claim that he had saved a soldier through a ground operation, stating that “it is not possible for Israel to reach a prisoner held by Izzeddin Qassam” and suggesting that he could be one of the prisoners held by other groups. or individuals in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Ubeida defended his opinion that “if Benjamin Netanyahu brags and celebrates the release of a prisoner after a month of war, it will take him 20 years to save the remaining prisoners in Gaza by this method.”

HOW MANY HOSTAGES ARE THERE?

In a statement issued on October 16, the Qassam Brigades reported that they had between 200 and 250 prisoners, including high-ranking military personnel.

According to Israeli sources, there are 240 Israeli hostages in Gaza.

LATEST SITUATION IN GAZA

While Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched a comprehensive attack on the morning of October 7, in response to Israel’s continued violations “against the Palestinians and their sacred values, especially the Masjid al-Aqsa”. The Israeli army also concentrated on the Gaza Strip and launched aerial bombardments.

Israeli officials announced that more than 1,400 Israelis, including 315 soldiers, were killed and 5,132 people were wounded in the attacks carried out from Gaza.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said there are 240 Israeli prisoners held by the al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported that 8,525 Palestinians, including 3,542 children and 2,187 women, were killed and 21,643 people were wounded in Israeli attacks.

In attacks by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, 124 Palestinians were killed and approximately 2,000 Palestinians were injured.

35 journalists lost their lives in Gaza and 1 journalist in Lebanon during the Israeli bombardment.

Due to Israel’s intense attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip, Internet communication, landline and mobile telephone services in the region have stopped.

The Israeli military began expanding limited ground operations on October 26 and further increased the dose of airstrikes. (AA-REUTERS)