Hamas determined: No more hostage releases without delivery of medicine and fuel to Gaza

(Patria) - A Hamas official said today that the Islamist group will not release any more hostages unless medical supplies and fuel are allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Hamas, which holds more than 220 hostages, including babies and young children, released two female hostages who are U.S. citizens on Friday, with Qatar mediating.

- For humanitarian reasons, we unconditionally released four people, but if anyone requests further release of hostages, we must ask the international community to exert greater pressure on Israel and open the Rafah crossing to allow supplies of medical materials and fuel into Gaza - said Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas's politburo and its representative in Lebanon.

Hamdan, who is close to the hostage negotiations, emphasizes that Palestinians have a fundamental right to hospital treatment if they are exposed to Israeli airstrikes on a daily basis, Hina reports.

- Israel needs to stop bombing our people in order to ensure the release of those who have been abducted - Hamdan stressed.

At least 222 people were abducted in the attack by Hamas Islamists on October 7 on settlements, kibbutzim and a music festival in southern Israel.

On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,400 Israelis and nationals of several other countries, nearly all of them civilians.

In retaliatory Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, more than 5,000 people have been killed, according to data from the local health ministry controlled by Hamas.

The figures, dpa news agency reports, could not be independently confirmed.