DOHA, (PIC)
Hamas Political Bureau Member Khalil al-Hayya said that Israel was adamant on resuming its war crimes, killing of women and children and destruction of civil facilities in the besieged Gaza Strip, with a major goal: displacing the Palestinian people.
Speaking to Al-Jazeera, Al-Hayya said on Friday that Israel has not been exposed to international and popular pressure sufficient enough for deterring it from killing more women and children.
He affirmed that Israel has refused several offers and suggestions for extending the humanitarian truce to go ahead in prisoner exchange deals.
“We have accomplished the file of women and children and handed over 85 captives, but Israel has been trying to act smart by including female soldiers in the category of civilian women, overlooking the fact that we have arrested those women from Israeli army’s military tanks and camps,” he said.
The Hamas official revealed that his Movement offered to release the Israeli elderly captives in return for the release of the elderly among Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails as well as to release the bodies of a number of captives who were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. All the offers were totally rejected by Israel, he added.
“We have no more than three individuals from the category of women and children. Israel refused to extend the truce for their release,” Al-Hayya said.
He affirmed that Hamas Movement is open to negotiations for the release of civilian captives until reaching a complete ceasefire.
Al-Hayya disclosed that Hamas offered the release of the bodies of the wife and children of captive Yardin Bibas who were killed by Israeli bombardment along with the release of Bibas himself in return for the release of all the Palestinian ex-prisoners who were rearrested after being released in Shalit’s prisoner exchange deal. Israel, however, did not accept the offer, he said.
“Hamas is ready for a new temporary truce for the release of the elderly men under certain conditions. Talking about a swap deal that would include Israeli soldiers must coincide with a total ceasefire,” Al-Hayya affirmed.
The Hamas official asserted that the resistance will definitely continue the fight and will certainly engage the advanced Israeli occupation forces on the ground.
