Hamas official says resistance movement ready for all-for-all prisoner exchange with Israeli regime

A senior Hamas official says the Palestinian movement is ready to release all Israeli captives in Gaza in return for Israel freeing Palestinian abductees, stressing however that the regime has so far blocked an exchange deal.

Saleh al-Arouri, speaking to Press TV’s “Face to Face” program, said the recent ceasefire extension talks between Hamas and Israel collapsed due to the regime’s refusal to accept the movement’s all-for-all offer.

He said Hamas has always said it wants Palestinian prisoners to be freed in return for the movement’s release of Israeli military captives held in Gaza.

“We said it very clearly, we were ready to hand over all the prisoners and the corpses in exchange for all our prisoners and the corpses with the Israelis who used to kidnap our martyrs on the battlefield,” he said.

“Therefore, from the beginning, we wanted all for all, but the Israeli regime did not reply, they were concentrating on the women and kids; even when we proposed the release of some civilian males, not soldiers, they refused the deal, saying we do not want them!”

On the exchange of settlers held in Gaza with Palestinian prisoners, he said Hamas never wanted to keep settlers in Gaza and this exchange deal didn’t happen because of Israel’s brutal bombardment campaign.

“Hamas offered the idea of all for all, but the Israelis are promoting lies only, they have been saying that Hamas agreed to the release of women and children under heavy pressure, so we are going to exert more pressure on Hamas to force it to release our military men and women in an unjust deal or without any deal at all.”

Netanyahu lying to save himself

Arouri said Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has blocked the Gaza ceasefire to save his political future and has refused Hamas’ offers to release all Israeli military captives held in Gaza in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

“Netanyahu during his meeting with the families of the freed Israelis … said something that was recorded and went on the air by some Hebrew channels. He said if Hamas offered all for all, we would accept it, but he was lying because we came up with an official and public offer” to that effect, he said.

Gaza’s brave battle against Israel nearing a bright end: Hamas leader

The leader of Hamas resistance movement says the Palestinian’s brave battle with the Israeli regime is approaching a bright end thanks to the heroic resistance of fighters and the nation.

He said Netanyahu lied to his people about the ceasefire talks and vowed to release the captives through the war on Gaza but to no avail.

“Their prime minister was lying to his society, practically I think this matter has become very clear for the Israeli society and the international community. What he was talking about was the military operation to free his prisoners with Hamas; this matter is impossible to achieve, and he failed in it. For about 70 days and [during] the ground incursion inside Gaza, the Israelis succeeded in getting three corpses only. So, the idea of freeing their soldiers alive is totally impossible,” he said.

Hamas determination outweighs its missiles

In his remarks, Arouri also said the group’s will and determination to fight the Israeli occupation outweighs its tunnels and missiles.

The Palestinian leader said the most significant strength point of the Palestinian fighters is that they fight for a just cause and are ready to sacrifice for their cause.

He said this will and determination are much more important than Hamas’ tunnels and missiles.

“The most significant factor Hamas fighters possess is that they are people with a right and a just cause and people who believe in it are ready to sacrifice for it. This is the most significant thing we have and more reliable than the tunnels and missiles …When we have the will and determination, nothing can defeat us,” he said.

Palestinians capable of defeating Israel

Arouri noted that Israel can by no means wipe out Hamas no matter how hard it tries.

He emphasized that the resistance group is the “essential part” of the Palestinian people and it will continue to fight and stand against Israeli brutality with will and determination.

In the interview, Arouri said Israel has had no significant battlefield achievement so far.

He said the regime’s forces have resorted to propaganda campaigns such as arresting civilians in schools claiming they are prisoners from Hamas.

“There is no doubt in that, I’m talking to the Israelis who are repeating their allegations by saying we are going to defeat Hamas and its fighters very soon. If they are Hamas fighters under your arrest, why don’t you distribute photos for them? What they have been doing is a desperate movement; they arrested old people claiming they were Hamas fighters.”

Hamas to Press TV: 'We're ready for long war,' won't give up resistance

Senior Hamas

He said the resistance movement will not be eliminated, and it is even capable of defeating the occupation forces. 

“Our ability to go ahead with fighting till the defeat of the occupation is 100% certain, that is what I said two months ago. Many people were asking would Israel succeed? I replied we would meet six months or a year later, and then the Israelis would beg the world to get them out of the hell of resistance.”

Al-Aqsa Storm part of Palestinian struggle

He said Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was part of the long-running Palestinian struggle to regain its freedom, stressing that it was meant to show the world that ignoring the rights of the Palestinian people will negatively impact stability.

“October 7 wasn’t something rare. That was … part of the Palestinian struggle to get its freedom and to live like other nations in the world, having its state and own sovereignty. So this has been another stage of the Palestinian people[‘s struggle] … but this stage has been a big and powerful one, [as it] created a big shock for the Israeli regime,” Arouri said.

“The operation carried out by resistance factions caused surprise and shock and was meant to awaken the Israeli society and the world in general.  These people did not remain silent about their rights and are capable of showing the world every time what is bigger and more dangerous. The negligence to the rights of the Palestinian people will affect the international stability,” he added.

The Hamas official went on to say that this operation made it clear that the Israeli military and intelligence services are nothing “more than a mirage.”

Arouri further stated that the extremist policies of the Israeli regime were also among the reasons behind Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, including the expansion of settlements and changing the status quo of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied al-Quds, as well as the years-long blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The current Israeli regime has exceeded all red lines, he said, stressing that “there is no way of remaining silent in front of it.”

Iran sincere in supporting Gaza

He further hailed Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause and said all Muslim countries should follow Iran’s suit and take concrete actions to help the Palestinians liberate their lands.

The Hamas official also condemned the international community’s disregard for Israeli actions, saying the world’s silence is ruining any possible chance for a solution.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long violence against Palestinians.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 19,600 Palestinians and injured more than 52,000 others.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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