Hamas: Hostages Will Only Be Released After Israel Withdraws

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Oct 18, 2024

Above: Palestinians, who took refuge at Nuseirat refugee camp due to Israeli attacks, wait in queue to receive food, distributed by a charity organization in Gaza City, Gaza on Oct. 18, 2024. Image copyright: Moiz Salhi/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Imagesstory last updated Oct 18

The Facts

Top Hamas official Khalil Hayya confirmed on Friday that the group's leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces. Hayya continued that Hamas will only release the hostages after Israel ends its attacks on Gaza and withdraws from the strip.Top Hamas official Khalil Hayya confirmed on Friday that the group's leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces. Hayya continued that Hamas will only release the hostages taken on Oct. 7 last year if there is a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the strip.
Meanwhile, fighting in and around Jabalia and its refugee camp in northern Gaza continued on Friday with Israel sending additional troops to the area. Residents said that Israeli tanks reached the center of the camp and reported heavy bombardment. Israel said the operation aimed to prevent Hamas from regrouping in the area.Meanwhile, fighting in and around Jabalia and its refugee camp in northern Gaza continued on Friday, with Israel sending additional troops to the area. Residents said that Israeli tanks reached the center of the camp and reported heavy bombardment. Israel said the operation aimed to prevent Hamas from regrouping in the area.

The Spin

Sinwar's death will be a good opportunity to restart negotiations and work toward a cease-fire that ends this war. US officials have spent months frustrated with the lack of progress in Doha and Cairo, but now, though things are still uncertain, there is a real changechance that peace can come at last.

CNN

Though Yahya Sinwar and other terrorist leaders are now dead, Israel must still think carefully about how to proceed. Though the primary mastermind behind Hamas' Oct. 7 massacres is gone, Israel is still facing terrorist threats on every front. Israel is winning, but the war is not over quite yet.

Jerusalem Post

Israel's true goal in northern Gaza is to starve and exterminate the civilian population so that the region is never inhabited by Palestinians again. Israeli politicians and military officials have been quite clear about the country's genocidal goals, yet the media continues to ignore their horrifying ambitions. This is a campaign of mass extermination that has received the full backing of the US.