Rafah Border Crossing opens for the wounded: Hamas to release some foreign hostages
Following Israeli attacks, the Rafah Border Crossing on the Egyptian border has reopened for the evacuation of the wounded and foreign nationals from Gaza. Additionally, Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced that they have informed mediators they will release some foreign captives in their possession as they do not wish to keep them in Gaza.
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The Rafah Border Crossing on the Egyptian border, the only exit point from Gaza not under Israeli control, reopened today.
"IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG THE BORDER WILL REMAIN OPEN"
Most recently, dozens of Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli attacks on the Jabalia Refugee Camp. Severely wounded Palestinians will be transported to Egypt for treatment. With the opening of the Rafah Border Crossing, ambulances entered Gaza from Egypt to transport the wounded.
It was stated that the border was opened on a limited basis following an agreement reached between Israel, Hamas, and Egypt with the mediation of Qatar. Sources reported that severely wounded individuals and foreign nationals in Gaza would be evacuated during a process that will also be coordinated by the US. No information was provided regarding how long the border will remain open.
HOSTAGE STATEMENT FROM HAMAS
Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced that they have informed mediators they will release some foreign captives in their possession as they do not wish to keep them in Gaza.
Qassam Brigades Spokesperson Abu Obeida spoke about the Israeli and foreign captives held in the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli blockade, in a video message he released.
‘WE HAVE NO NEED TO KEEP THEM IN GAZA’
Stating that they informed mediators they would soon release some of the foreign captives in their possession due to requests from various countries and because they do not wish to keep them in Gaza, Abu Obeida said: “We have informed the mediators that we will release the foreigners we are holding in the next few days. We have no need to keep them in Gaza.”
‘IT WOULD TAKE NETANYAHU 20 YEARS TO RESCUE THE CAPTIVES’
Denying Israel's claim that it rescued one of its soldiers through a ground operation, Abu Obeida stated that “it is impossible for Israel to reach a captive held by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades,” and that this could be one of the captives held by other groups or individuals in the Gaza Strip. Abu Obeida added, “If Benjamin Netanyahu is boasting and celebrating the release of one captive after a month of war, it would take him 20 years to rescue the remaining captives in Gaza using this method.”
‘A BEGINNING FOR THE END OF THE OCCUPYING ENTITY’
Emphasizing that Netanyahu will also end his political future with the defeat he will suffer in the Gaza Strip, Abu Obeida said, “This will be a beginning for the end of the occupying entity.”
Stating that they have destroyed 22 Israeli military vehicles since the day the Israeli army began entering Gaza by land, Abu Obeida pointed out that Qassam Brigades members have engaged in clashes with Israeli forces and inflicted heavy casualties. Emphasizing that defensive actions against the Israeli army are continuing and that these actions are just the beginning, Abu Obeida said, “The Gaza Strip will be a graveyard for the enemy.”
Abu Obeida added that in recent days, they have attacked some targets at sea using a torpedo for the first time off the coast of the Gaza Strip.