Hamas ready to negotiate release of more hostages, official says

Moussa Abu Marzouk denies targeting of Israeli civilians in Oct. 7 attack

20231212N Hamas Abu Marzouk

Moussa Abu Marzouk speaks with Nikkei in the Qatari capital of Doha on Dec. 11. (Photo by Takeshi Kumon)

SHOGO AKAGAWA, MOMOKO KIDERA and SABER RABIE, Nikkei staff writers

DOHA, Qatar -- Hamas is ready to release more hostages from Israel, but only through negotiations involving the release of Palestinian civilians in Israeli jails, the group's deputy political leader told Nikkei.

Moussa Abu Marzouk sat down for an interview on Monday in Doha, where Hamas' political wing is based, and claimed to have broad international support, including from China. Throughout, he would not say that Hamas was in a corner militarily or that it had deliberately targeted civilians in its Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel.

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