'Israel Blocking Ceasefire, Hostage Release Talks,' Says Hamas
Hamas's armed wing accused Israel of blocking a hostage deal and warned previous offers may be withdrawn. The group, the al-Qassam Brigades, is designated as a terrorist organization by the US, EU, and UK, and launched the deadly Oct. 7 attacks.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday accused Israel of blocking a potential deal for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, warning that its previous proposals for partial exchanges may be off the table if talks fail.
In a video statement, Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said that Hamas "always proposed a comprehensive deal that will return all the hostages at once."
However, he stated that Israel "rejected what we proposed," and urged it to reconsider.
Abu Obaida issued a warning regarding the current negotiations. "If the enemy remains obstinate in this round of negotiations we cannot guarantee a return to the partial-deal proposals -- including the 10-prisoner (hostage) exchange offer," he added.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, also known as IQB, is the military wing of Hamas. According to the Terrorist Content Analytics Platform (TCAP), IQB and its parent organization are designated as a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other authorities, and are also subject to financial sanctions. TCAP notes that IQB has carried out deadly terrorist attacks since the early 2000s, including suicide bombings and rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians.
The current conflict began with the group's most notable recent attack, which it called "Operation al-Aqsa Flood," on Oct. 7, 2023. The unprecedented, coordinated assault on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 people and the capture of around 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials and TCAP data.
In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, launching a large-scale military offensive in the Gaza Strip with the stated aims of dismantling the militant group and securing the release of all hostages. The ensuing war has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with the Hamas-run Health Ministry in the territory reporting tens of thousands of Palestinians killed.
Negotiations, primarily mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have been ongoing for months. A week-long truce in November 2023 saw the release of over 100 hostages for 240 Palestinian prisoners. However, subsequent efforts have stalled over key disagreements, including Hamas's demand for a permanent end to the war, a condition Israel has rejected.
TCAP also notes that IQB maintains a "persistent and active online presence" through messaging apps and dedicated channels, which it uses to disseminate official statements.
