China News Service, Beijing, December 22 Comprehensive news: The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on the 21st local time that it would not negotiate the exchange of detainees unless Israel ends its military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli side categorically refuses this.
According to CNN, Hamas issued a statement on the 21st saying that it would not agree to negotiate the exchange of detainees unless a comprehensive ceasefire is achieved, and said that this was speaking on behalf of all Palestinians.
According to AFP and Al Jazeera, Hamas said that a comprehensive ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip are preconditions for negotiations on the exchange of detainees. A senior Hamas member said Hamas was not interested in releasing the hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire because Israel would then continue to fight "on a new scale" against our people
Earlier, Israel had proposed a one-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of dozens of detainees, which Hamas had rejected.
According to the Times of Israel21**, Israel unequivocally rejected Hamas's demand for a comprehensive ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on the same day that Israel would "fight to victory" and would not stop the war until all the goals of the war were achieved, that is, "destroy Hamas and release all hostages". Netanyahu also said he had given Hamas "a very simple choice: surrender or die."
An Israeli** said on the same day that there had been no active negotiations with Hamas on a new hostage release agreement. But he noted that Israel had already held two meetings with Qatar this week to discuss a new framework for the hostage release agreement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on the 21st that it had destroyed the main Hamas tunnels hidden under the Palestinian Square in the center of Gaza City. According to the Israeli military, the tunnel is connected to Hamas's high-class ** homes, offices and hideouts. (ENDS).