Hamas sets conditions for hostage release Following death of Sinwar

Hamas has declared that it will not release hostages until Israeli forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

This announcement was made in a statement following the death of Yahya Sinwar, leader of the organization’s political bureau, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

In the message, Hamas emphasized that the return of hostages held by its units is contingent upon an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the region, and the release of Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli jails.

Hamas confirmed on October 18 that its leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza and reiterated its stance that hostages the militant group took from Israel a year ago will not be released until there is a cease-fire in Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a day earlier his country's military would keep fighting until the hostages are released and will remain in Gaza to prevent a severely weakened Hamas from rearming after a year of devastating war.

Taken together, the two sides' statements immediately after Sinwar's killing signal they haven't softened their core positions to ending the conflict, even as President Joe Biden and some other Western leaders say this is a turning point that should be used to unlock stalled cease-fire negotiations.

By Vafa Guliyeva