Osama Hamdan, a leader of the Hamas movement, says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "blocked" the release of hostages with dual citizenship from the Gaza Strip.
"We were prepared to release the hostages with dual passports, but at the last moment, Netanyahu refused to do so, as a mediator informed us," Hamdan conveyed to El Mundo newspaper. "We agreed to all the negotiations, and suddenly, the day before the ground invasion began, Netanyahu blocked the agreement," he explained.
"Of course, we want to free the hostages and our captives, but this is one battle in the long struggle against the occupation," stated the Hamas politburo member. According to him, Israel must halt "the ground offensive, release the prisoners, allow humanitarian aid access, and end the siege [of the Gaza Strip]."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS