The Palestinian group has just released a statement outlining its positions during the negotiations for a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, reported Al Jazeera.
“We are ready for a second phase in which the prisoners will be exchanged in one go, within the criterion of reaching an agreement that leads to a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from the Strip,” the statement said.
The group also rejected Israel’s call for its disarmament and removal from the Gaza Strip.
“The occupation’s condition of removing Hamas from the Gaza Strip is a ridiculous psychological war, and the withdrawal or disarmament of the resistance from Gaza is unacceptable,” said Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the group.
“Any arrangements for the future of the Gaza Strip will be through national consensus,” he said.
Qassem also addressed the group’s decision to increase the number of captives to be freed during the next swap on Saturday from three to six.
“Doubling the number of prisoners to be released was done in response to a request from the mediators and to prove our seriousness in implementing all the terms of the agreement,” he said.
In exchange, Israel will be release “a number of prisoners with life sentences and long sentences,” he added.
