Hamas armed wing says Israel ‘stalled’ on possible deal over hostages

Abu Ubaida, the spokesman of the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, gestures as he speaks during an anti-Israel military show in the southern Gaza Strip November 11, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo © Thomson Reuters

(Reuters) – Hamas was about to reach an agreement with Israel over the hostages held by the Palestinian militant faction but Israel had “stalled” on that possibility, a spokesman for the group’s armed wing said on Saturday.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, also said in a video speech the group would only release all the hostages it has if Israel freed all Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas can also hold talks over a “partial” agreement over the captives, he added.

Source: Reuters/Reporting by Hatem Maher and Enas Alashray; editing by David Evans