From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Israel said to warn Hamas it’ll hold group responsible if al-Sayed’s health worsens
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Israel has passed along messages to Hamas through various channels that it will hold the terror group responsible if the health of the two Israeli captives being held in Gaza worsens, Channel 12’s Nir Dvori reports, without citing any sources.
The message was passed along after Hamas released footage of captive Hisham al-Sayed showing him hooked up to oxygen and claiming his health has deteriorated.
Channel 12 says Israel believes the clip was filmed eight days ago.
The network’s Palestinian Affairs correspondent Ohad Hemo speculates that the timing of the footage could be for three reasons. One possibility is that al-Sayed’s health is indeed worsening, leaving Hamas with a narrowing window to push for a prisoner swap.
Hemo also notes that the footage was released amid growing pressure on Hamas from its prisoners in Israeli jails and their families to do more to release them.
The other possibility is that Hamas is trying to exploit the fragile political situation in Israel, Hemo says.
The network notes reports of a recent offer by Israel to trade hundreds of Palestinian prisoners without blood on their hands in exchange for the bodies and captives being held by Hamas. The terror group rejected the proposal though and talks have since stalled.
The Times of Israel Community.