What Prevents HAMAS from Releasing Hostages

The Palestinian HAMAS movement is ready to release all captured civilians, but the bombardments in Gaza prevent this from happening. This was stated in an interview with RIA Novosti by Musa Abu Marzouk, a member of the movement's political bureau and head of its external relations department.

“Intense bombardments and mass killings are underway, there is destruction. They are bombing everything—people and infrastructure, as well as movement (of the hostages). It's simply impossible; we cannot guarantee their survival,” he explained.

According to the bureau member, Israeli strikes have already led to the deaths of more than seven thousand people, including three thousand children, as well as the destruction of 250,000 housing units.

As Abu Marzouk noted, from the very first day of the escalation, the movement expressed the desire not to hold any civilians, but HAMAS needs appropriate conditions for their release and safe return. At the same time, he stated, Israel has refused to respond to this humanitarian call and has continued its bombardments until the point when about 50 hostages were killed.

Earlier, the official representative of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, stated that, according to the movement's assessments, around 50 Israeli hostages have died due to Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip.