Palestinian Militants Urge Israel To Lift Restrictions On Gaza, Palestinian Militants: Prisoners Changed Prisoners

JAKARTA - Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday warned Israel against delaying lifting of restrictions imposed on Hamas-controlled areas, as well as rejecting a prisoner swap proposal.

The warning came after a meeting of leaders of various factions in the Gaza Strip to discuss recent developments around a ceasefire reached last month between Israel and Hamas that ended the 11-day Gaza war.

"We will not accept any pressure on our people or any attempt to link files to each other," the factions said in a statement, referring to Israel's request that Hamas hand over two Israeli civilians and the bodies of two other IDF soldiers who were killed detained in the Palestinian territories, as quoted by The Jerusalem Post, Wednesday, June 23.

UN and Egyptian mediators reportedly told Hamas the issue of rebuilding the Gaza Strip should be linked to a prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.

"(Israeli) prisoners are being exchanged for (Palestinian) prisoners," the factions said in their statement, stressing that they rejected any attempt to link reconstruction efforts with prisoner exchanges.

"Our people are ready to challenge and impose more equality. Our great people will never stand still and the enemy will see that we are ready for all options, and we will fight it by all popular and other means," added the factions.

Hamas, in a separate statement, said after the meeting held in the office of its leader, Yahya Sinwar, it also warned Israel not to drag on with easing restrictions imposed on the Gaza Strip.

"The enemy will not succeed in its policy of blackmail and hand-beating, and we will not accept pressure on our people or attempts to link them," Hamas stressed.

Hamas also criticized the international community, including the United Nations, for allegedly identifying with Israel's position on the Gaza Strip.

"The UN is a global political and humanitarian organization that is responsible for achieving peace and helping people, especially those under occupation. Not colluding and supporting the occupation of defenseless people who are subjected to various types of extortion and sieges," Hamas criticized.

Hamas also asked the UN Secretary-General to force Israel to comply with international law and support Palestine.