Hamas Affirms No Talk About Prisoner Exchange Until Israel's Military Operations In Gaza Ends

Release of Israeli hostages by Hamas (Source: Screenshot of X via The Times of Israel)

JAKARTA - Hamas will not approve any talks regarding the prisoner swap until Israel ends its military operations in Gaza, the group said on Thursday.

"There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk of detainees or exchange deals, except after the complete cessation of aggression," Hamas said in a statement, claiming to speak on behalf of all Palestinians.

This was announced when the head of the political bureau Hamas Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday to hold talks with Egyptian officials.

His visit came after Israel said it proposed a week-long battle pause in exchange for the release of 40 hostages, a similar deal with last month's deal that resulted in a temporary ceasefire.

While Israel and Hamas are negotiating the release of hostages again, they have not "closed the current final agreement," an Israeli official told CNN on Wednesday.

He added that Israel asked all remaining hostages to be released as part of any deal, while a temporary ceasefire as part of the deal could last for a week or two, the official said.

Earlier, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad indicated to Al Jazeera the militant group was not interested in releasing hostages in exchange for weeks of pause, as Israel would continue the war afterward.

"Some people are looking for a short pause, a pause here and there for one week, two weeks, three weeks. But we want to stop the aggression (fully)," Hamad was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.

"Because I think Israel will take over the role of the hostages, and after that they will start a new chapter of mass killings and massacres against our people. I don't think we will play this game," said Hamad.