Al-Qassam: We’re Ready to Allow Food and Medicine for Israeli Prisoners, But Only if Israel Stops Starving Gaza

Gaza (Quds News Network)- The military wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Sunday its readiness to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver food and medicine to Israeli soldier prisoners held in Gaza. But the resistance movement made clear that any humanitarian gesture toward soldier prisoners must come with conditions.

In a statement, Al-Qassam said, “We are prepared to respond positively to any request from the Red Cross to bring food and medicine to enemy prisoners.” However, they stressed that this could only happen if Israel opens humanitarian corridors across Gaza and halts its aerial surveillance and attacks during the aid delivery process.

The group emphasized that it is not deliberately starving the prisoners. “They eat what our fighters and our people eat,” Al-Qassam said. “They will not receive special privileges at a time when our people are being starved under siege.”

The statement followed the release of a video by Al-Qassam’s military media, titled “The Israeli Government Decided to Starve Them.” The footage showed an emaciated Israeli soldier held in Gaza, his skeletal frame a chilling testament to months of Israeli-made famine. The video was released in Arabic, Hebrew, and English.

The soldier, who was reportedly due for release in a delayed prisoner exchange, appeared barely able to speak or move. Al-Qassam said the Israeli government bears full responsibility for his condition. “They eat what we eat. They drink what we drink,” the brigades repeated in the video.

The footage also included heart-wrenching scenes of Palestinian infants suffering from extreme malnutrition. Their ribs protruded from their skin. Some lay motionless in hospital beds. Others, too weak to cry, stared blankly at the camera. The message was unmistakable: starvation in Gaza is a man-made policy.

The video also featured statements from top Israeli officials. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was heard saying, “What Gaza needs now is bombs.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted saying, “We will allow only the bare minimum of aid.”

Shortly after the video’s release, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call with Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC regional mission. According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu demanded “immediate intervention” by the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to the Israeli prisoners in Gaza.

But Al-Qassam argues that Netanyahu’s concern comes too late and is deeply hypocritical. For nearly 10 months, Israel has blocked or restricted aid to Gaza, leading to catastrophic hunger. UN agencies say famine is already underway in parts of the north and is rapidly spreading.

The issue of Israeli prisoners has become central to ongoing but stalled ceasefire negotiations. Hamas says it is open to a deal, but only if Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.

Israel, meanwhile, continues the genocide, including in Rafah and central Gaza, where heavy bombardments and ground incursions have been reported.