The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has said Israeli soldiers among the 240 hostages held by Gaza will only be released in exchange for all jailed Palestinians in Israel.
The PIJ – a close collaborator with Hamas – is reportedly holding about 40 of the hostages taken during the 7 October attacks.
“The enemy’s military prisoners will not be released without the freedom of our prisoners, and this is linked to the end of the aggression,” said Ziad Nakhaleh.
He said that Israel would be forced to “eventually reach a deal of everyone in return for everyone”.
It was not immediately clear how many of the hostages held in Gaza are currently serving in the military.
Over the next four days, 50 hostages are to be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, with both sides releasing women and children first.
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