By Mohammad Majid and Ahmed Asmar
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Hamas group's armed wing on Friday released a new video of an Israeli captive soldier held in Gaza, who called for moving into the ceasefire's second phase and completing the prisoner swap.
Israeli soldier Matan Angrest appeared in the video released by the Al-Qassam Brigades, saying that the only way to bring Israeli captives back from Gaza is through a prisoner deal and moving towards the second phase.
"I want to tell the (Israeli) army, you will not succeed in bringing us back through military force. The only way to bring us back is through an exchange deal and moving to the second phase," Angrest said.
"I heard about the phases of the deal. This is not just about the prisoners; we want to return home," he said, demanding: "Release all the prisoners, end this story, and let everyone go their own way."
The captive soldier urged US President Donald Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue with the ceasefire agreement.
"We beg you, bring all the prisoners home. You are the only one with the power to influence Netanyahu and the (Israeli) government. Help finalize this deal," Angrest said, addressing Trump.
Israel halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to start negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire deal between Tel Aviv and Hamas.
Earlier, Hamas declared its readiness to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, reiterating that the completion of prisoner-hostage exchanges depends on Israel’s full adherence to the terms of the deal, particularly regarding the humanitarian situation in the enclave.
More than 48,400 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 111,800 have been injured in a brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 2023. The assault, which left the enclave in ruins, was paused under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold on Jan. 19.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.