Gaza Herald – A senior source close to the ongoing negotiations in Sharm El Sheikh revealed that Hamas has made its stance clear: the release of all Israeli captives will only be completed once Israel fully withdraws its forces from the Gaza Strip.
The discussions, now in their second day, focused heavily on detailed withdrawal maps and the timetable for releasing Israeli captives. According to the source, Hamas tied every phase of captive release directly to stages of the occupation army’s withdrawal, rejecting any partial or conditional arrangements.
The negotiating team reportedly underscored that the final exchange, the release of the last Israeli captive, must coincide with the departure of the last Israeli soldier from Gaza’s soil. The delegation also demanded firm international guarantees to ensure a permanent cessation of the ongoing genocide and a full end to Israel’s military presence in the enclave.
As talks continue, the source described the discussions as “critical and decisive,” reflecting Hamas’s insistence that no humanitarian or political progress can be sustainable without a complete Israeli withdrawal. The movement’s position, reiterated during the latest session, signals that any agreement must mark both the end of captivity and the end of occupation, a single moment symbolizing Gaza’s path to freedom.
