Gaza militant group sets conditions for release of two hostages

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization announced that it is ready to release two hostages held in the Gaza Strip when relevant conditions are met.

"We are ready to release Hanna Katzir for humanitarian and health reasons, as we cannot provide her with medical treatment due to lack of medicine, fuel and electricity. We are also ready to release the teenager Yagil Jabob for humanitarian reasons," a spokesman for the Quds Brigade, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), said on November 9.

The Quds Brigade spokesman noted that Israel “is holding hundreds of Palestinian children,” adding that the proposed release “will be implemented as soon as appropriate measures are taken, both security-wise and on the ground, to protect Palestinians.” He did not specify what those measures would be.

Katzir, 77, and Jacob, 13, were reportedly kidnapped from the Nir Oz settlement in southern Israel when Hamas launched a surprise attack on the area on October 7. In the PIJ video , Katzir and Jacob speak in Hebrew, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of causing the current situation.

This is the first time PIJ has released images of the hostages it is holding. PIJ, along with Hamas, are the two main armed groups in the Gaza Strip. PIJ is smaller and supports Hamas, which controls the area.

Hanna Katzir and Yagil Jabob in a video released by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group on November 9. Photo: *Times of Israel*

Israel described the videos from PIJ as a sign that the hostages were alive but refused to comment on the possibility of their release. Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht said the videos were "psychological warfare".

"This is a sign of life and it is very important," said Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman. "For the time being, I will leave aside the question of their possible release. We will be the first to update the families before anything happens."

According to Hagari, Israel will not miss any opportunity to bring the hostages home.

Israeli officials said more than 240 people were taken hostage when Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7. The Hamas raid also caused heavy casualties, prompting Israel to launch a military operation in the Gaza Strip in response.

Four hostages have been freed and mediators are trying to negotiate the release of the others. The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said one hostage was killed and another wounded in an Israeli airstrike on November 9.

Fighting between Israel and Hamas has left nearly 12,000 people dead and nearly 32,000 injured as of November 9.

Nhu Tam (According to Times of Israel, Reuters )

Source link