The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas stated that the Israeli occupation will not get its soldiers from Gaza without a prisoner swap.

Hamas Spokesperson Hazem Qasim said in a press release that "the only way that the Israeli occupation will get its soldiers in the hands of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza is with a real and honorable prisoner swap."

Qasim added that "any prisoner swap would be carried out through indirect talks with his movement, which does not recognize Israel."

He pointed to previous successes of the Palestinian resistance related to reaching prisoner swaps with the Israeli occupation over the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.