Palestinian resistance organisation Hamas has issued a message to the families of the Israelis held captive by it following the initiation of the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th, 2023. Titled “To the families of ‘israeli’ prisoners in the Gaza Strip:”, Hamas’s message to the Israeli hostages’ families, highlights the anti-ceasefire statements by far-right Zionist politicians and underscores how the call for resumption of the genocide can threaten the security of the Israelis held captive in Gaza.
“As preparations are underway for the release of a second batch of “israeli” prisoners from Gaza, we have followed with great astonishment the statements of several occupation leaders from the extremist “israeli” government, who have hinted at the resumption of war and destruction in the Gaza Strip (sic),” the message published by Hamas read.
At the very beginning, Hamas’s message to the Israeli hostages’ families highlights how the Palestinian resistance has protected the captives despite the genocide, bombing targeting the detention facilities and amid sheer starvation and lack of water in Gaza, while, at the same time, Israel was torturing Palestinian hostages it holds captive.
“Hamas and the resistance have demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving the lives of “israeli” prisoners in our custody and ensuring their basic needs are met, despite the genocide, starvation, and targeting endured by our people. This includes the bombing of some detention sites multiple times over the past 15 months and the killing and torture of Palestinian detainees in occupation prisons, acts that shame humanity itself (sic),” the statement further read.
“Upon reaching the ceasefire agreement and releasing the first group of female prisoners, we were deeply committed to ensuring their delivery in a civilized and humane manner, unlike the treatment our detainees experienced during their release (sic),” Hamas claimed in its message to Israeli hostages’ families.
While sharing these, Hamas also issued a veiled threat, highlighting the complexities involved in the process and how any adventurism can end up as a catastrophe.
“Today, we address this message to you in a time of great complexity and pain for all. We sense a great danger in the recent statements made by “israeli” political leaders. These remarks signal an imminent threat to everyone, including your loved ones still in Gaza (sic),” the message said, adding, “The recent statements by officials in the “israeli” government, suggesting intentions to resume war and destruction in Gaza, raise serious concerns about the safety of your children and the hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians suffering under siege and war (sic).”
Hamas has listed several such instances in its message to Israeli hostages’ families that it claimed threatened the ceasefire and the scope for peace in Gaza.
In the first case, Hamas highlights how Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had claimed on January 20th, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had personally promised him to resume his Gaza aggression after the first phase of the agreement was over, considering the ceasefire to be merely a temporary stage, to be followed by a new war to eliminate Hamas.
Secondly, it underscores that Mr Netanyahu considers the ceasefire a temporary measure and doesn’t want to continue it. Hamas alleged that on January 18th, Mr Netanyahu had indicated that the ceasefire agreement was temporary. He had asserted returning to fighting “in a new way and with great force” if circumstances necessitate it, Hamas claims.
Next, Hamas claims in its message to Israeli hostages’ families that “Minister Dudi Amsalem on January 22, 2025, claimed that the second phase of the ceasefire agreement would not occur, calling for an inevitable return to war (sic).”
Finally, it sheds light on the fact that Knesset Member Tally Gotliv “demanded the seizure of land in Gaza and the establishment of military bases on it,” on January 22nd. Hamas claims the Knesset member called the truce “unreal”.
Mentioning these instances, Hamas warns in its message that these types of statements from Zionist statesmen put the safety of the Israeli hostages in danger.
“We warn that these statements not only threaten a return to escalation and destruction but also put the safety of your loved ones at direct risk,” the statement further reads.
At the same time, Hamas has appealed to the families of the Israeli hostages to adopt a “responsive humanitarian stance” and raise their voices to the Israeli government and its leaders.
“These leaders prioritize their personal and political interests over the public interest, which should focus on ensuring the safety of your sons and everyone in Gaza, and adhering to the agreements (sic),” Hamas claims in its message.
The message issued by the Office of Martyrs, Prisoners, and the Wounded, issued on Thursday, claims that the voices of the family members of Israeli hostages can make a difference.
“We believe that your voices can bring about real change, and that your demands can make a difference in pushing back against the recklessness of this far-right government and its leaders. Your voices can pressure them to honor agreements that guarantee the safety of all and the return of your loved ones to you. War will only bring more destruction and loss, putting the lives of the remaining prisoners in real danger and an uncertain fate (sic),” the message concludes.
Meanwhile, the Al-Qassam Brigades have decided to release the four female soldiers on Saturday, January 25th under the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. According to a statement issued by the group, the four female Zionist soldiers are Karina Araiv, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Elbaz, all from the soldier rank.
The Gaza ceasefire deal focuses on the exchange of 98 Israeli hostages in return for a few hundred Palestinians held captive by Israelis.
