Hamas: The resistance is fine, and we will not release the occupation prisoners until we achieve our goals

The head of the Hamas movement abroad, Khaled Meshaal, confirmed that the Israeli detainees in Gaza will not be released unless the movement’s goals are achieved, “which are: stopping the aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation army from Gaza, and the return of the displaced,” stressing that the resistance is fine and is fighting a fierce battle on the ground and in negotiations.

The head of Hamas abroad, Khaled Meshaal, stressed that the movement will not release Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip until it achieves its goals, pointing out that there is a fierce battle with the Israeli occupation on the ground and in negotiations.

This came during an event in Jordan, according to a statement by Hamas on the Telegram platform on Wednesday, at a time when Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which it has besieged for 17 years, since October 7, 2023.

Meshaal considered that the movement’s leadership is waging a negotiating battle “no less fierce than the battle of the field,” adding: “God willing, we will defeat them in the field and in the negotiating battle.”

For days, the Qatari capital, Doha, has been hosting a new round of faltering indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a prisoner exchange agreement that includes a ceasefire.

Meshaal continued: “In the negotiations, we insist on stopping the aggression, withdrawing from Gaza, returning the displaced to their places, especially in northern Gaza, and providing all necessary relief, shelter, reconstruction, and ending the siege.”

The deadly Israeli bombing forced about two million Palestinians to flee their areas in the Gaza Strip, which is inhabited by about 2.3 million people, in catastrophic conditions.

Meshaal said: "We will not release their prisoners until we achieve these goals and manage the negotiating battle with determination."

Tel Aviv holds at least 9,100 Palestinians in its prisons, and estimates that there are about 134 Israeli detainees in Gaza, while Hamas announced that 70 of them were killed in random Israeli raids.

Regarding the ongoing fighting, Meshaal said, “The resistance is fine despite the ferocity of the battle... This is a historic battle. Yes, the balance of power is not in our favor, but God is with us, and after that our nation, and truth and justice for our cause are with us.”

He added, "This battle revealed the ugly face of the enemy (Israel) on the international arena. There was no change in the international arena and in international public opinion as happened in the shadow of this battle."

He stressed that "the media battle is still intense, as is the political battle, and what is required of the organizations, forces, rulers, governments, leaders, and leaders is to make our people in Gaza feel that they are with them in the field."

The devastating war waged by Israel on Gaza since October 7 has left tens of thousands martyred and injured, in addition to massive destruction of infrastructure and property, and the displacement of about two million Palestinians, according to Palestinian and UN data.

Israel continues this war despite the issuance of a resolution by the UN Security Council, on Monday, for an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, and also despite being tried for the first time before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing “genocide.”