Hamas Armed Wing Ready to Release 70 Women and Children Hostages for Five-Day Ceasefire

The release of two Israeli hostages by Hamas last month. (Screenshot of the Hamas Brigade Al-Qassam military wing video via Anadolu)

JAKARTA - The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has stated that it is ready to continue releasing the hostages they are holding, in exchange for a ceasefire by Israel.

In a statement Monday, the group told Qatari mediators it would free up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in exchange for a five-day ceasefire.

"Last week there was an attempt by the Qatari brothers to free women and children held by the enemy, in return for the release of 200 Palestinian children and 75 women held by the enemy," said Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas' armed wing Al-Brigades. Qassam, in an audio recording uploaded to his Telegram channel, reported Reuters, November 14.

"The ceasefire must include a complete ceasefire and allow humanitarian assistance anywhere in the Gaza Strip," he continued.

Abu Ubaida added that Israel was "delaying and avoiding the price" of the deal.

As previously reported, the Israeli military shared videos and photos showing what it said were weapons stored by Hamas in the basement of a children's hospital in Gaza on Monday, where they also said hostages appeared to be being held there.

Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said his troops had discovered a command center with an arsenal of weapons including grenades, suicide vests and other explosives stored by Hamas fighters in the basement of Rantissi Hospital, a children's hospital that specializes in treating cancer patients.

"And we also found signs that suggest Hamas is taking hostages here," he said in a televised press conference.

"We are currently investigating this. However, we also have intelligence that verifies it," continued Admiral Hagari.

It is known that Israel accused Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian infrastructure to hide command centers and weapons positions, as well as using civilians and hospital patients as human shields.

In response, Hamas and hospital authorities in Gaza denied that health facilities had been used in such a way. There was no immediate comment from Hamas regarding Israel's latest statement.