Senior Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said that an exchange of Palestinian detainees and Israeli captives in Gaza could only take place after a ceasefire, as ceasefire discussions in Cairo between Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar continued with no sign of progress.
Speaking at a press conference in Beirut, Hamdan reiterated his group’s requirements for a deal: an end to Israel’s military offensive, the departure of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in other parts of Gaza.
“Over the last two days, the movement has presented its perspective on the proposal put out by the fraternal Qatari and Egyptian mediators. We restated our criteria for a cease-fire: a complete withdrawal from the Strip and the restoration of displaced from areas they left, in particular in the north,” he said.
