Hamas "Foreign Hostages to Be Released Within Days"... Refusal to Release Israelis

Mediating Hostage Negotiations from Various Countries via Qatar
240 Held Hostage... Criticism of Stalling Tactics

Palestinian armed group Hamas, engaged in conflict with Israel, has announced plans to release foreign national hostages within days, drawing attention to the background of this decision. As the Israeli ground forces enter the Gaza Strip and begin a siege of Gaza City, the central city, it is interpreted that Hamas is accelerating negotiations regarding hostages of nationalities other than Israeli. Some critics argue that Hamas is using the hostages as human shields to buy time for preparations for urban warfare.

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

According to the Times of Israel on the 31st of last month (local time), Abu Ubaida, Hamas spokesperson, stated in a public video statement posted on his Telegram account that "a certain number of foreign prisoners will be released within the next few days," adding that "this is the result of mediation negotiations with some countries." However, he drew a line by saying there would be no release of Israeli prisoners. Ubaida warned, "We will soon turn the Gaza Strip into a graveyard for the Israeli army."

Regarding the rescue of Private Ori Megidish announced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) the previous day, he claimed, "The Israeli army did not rescue a hostage from us," asserting that the hostage was not originally held by them. Hamas claims that about 50 of the total hostages are held not by Hamas but by other Palestinian armed groups.

While the Israeli side is pressuring for the immediate release of Israeli hostages as well, Hamas refuses this demand. The Times of Israel strongly criticized, stating, "As the IDF conducts ground operations in the Gaza Strip, Hamas is employing various psychological tactics to create divisions between Israel and its allies and to weaken the war resolve within Israel, thereby buying time."

Israeli authorities estimate that about 240 hostages are still held by Hamas and armed groups in the Gaza Strip. Of the 245 people taken by Hamas on the 7th, 4 have been released and 1 rescued through ground operations, leaving 240 remaining.

Meanwhile, governments of countries whose nationals are held hostage are reportedly negotiating with Hamas through mediation by Middle Eastern countries including Qatar. Hamas is also criticized for demanding ransom from various countries in exchange for hostage negotiations and seeking to secure funds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.