Hamas Says No Prisoner Will Be Released Until War Ends

Hamdan clarified that any serious efforts to release the captives held by the Resistance should begin with a ceasefire.

He stated that the visit of the Hamas delegation to Moscow was part of efforts to halt the Israeli aggression against Gaza. He added, "We have requested assistance from Russia, China, and Algeria to help end the assault on Gaza."
While noting that "mediators informed the delegation that there are indications negotiations could move forward," he affirmed that "the Hamas delegation stands firmly by the movement's principles."
Hamdan mentioned that the delegation went to Cairo to hear the proposed ideas but emphasized that "the movement's stance on its demands remains unchanged."
Regarding US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visit to Tel Aviv, Hamdan noted that "Blinken’s message is no different from what US envoy Amos Hochstein presented." He viewed it as "an attempt to shift the situation to suit US-Israeli interests only."
Hamdan questioned whether Blinken proposed any new ideas, stating, "It’s difficult to determine if Blinken presented anything different without first hearing from the mediators. However, we don’t anticipate he introduced anything new."
He further emphasized, "The movement will not accept new proposals unless they address the interests and demands of the Palestinian people. However, there is no harm in listening to the mediators."
Hamas senior official referring to the situation in northern Gaza, which has been under siege for about 20 days, described it is "a step in the process of genocide, whether it's called a generals' plan or something else."