Hamas refuses further talks with Israel until prisoners’ release

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has refused further talks with Israel until the prisoners are released.

Hamas official Basim Naim said further ceasefire measures with Israel would not be negotiated by mediators until Palestinian prisoners were released in accordance with the agreement.

Hamas released six Israeli hostages under a ceasefire agreement on Saturday, in exchange for Israel’s release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, but the Israeli prime minister delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for Sunday, saying they would not be released until Hamas met their conditions.

“The decision to delay the release of the prisoners was due to repeated violations by Hamas, including their nefarious political use for events that hurt the dignity of our prisoners and propaganda,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

On Sunday, Basim Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told the British news agency that any negotiations with the enemy, which are being carried out through mediators, are not possible unless the 620 Palestinian prisoners set out under the agreement are released, who were to be freed on Saturday in exchange for six Israeli prisoners and four bodies.

He added that the arbitrators must ensure that the enemy complies with the terms of the agreement, as stipulated in the agreed agreement.