An adviser to Al Qaeda’s likely current leader, Mustafa Hamid, also known as Abu Walid al-Masri, called on Hamas militants to release Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
“The Times Of Israel” writes about this.
According to the American organization SITE, the statement was made online by Hamid and relates to current events since October 7, 2023, when Hamas took hostages in the conflict.
Hamid expressed the view that the global attention paid to the fate of Israeli hostages overshadows the problems of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. He also praised Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who was killed by Israeli forces this week, calling him the mastermind of the brutal attacks that led to the escalation of the war in Gaza.
In his statement, Hamid suggested that Hamas immediately release the hostages and return their bodies, adding that the issue must be closed once and for all to avoid further negative consequences.
He also noted that, in his opinion, the plight of Palestinian prisoners is ignored both in the media and in international negotiations and demonstrations.
Although Hamas receives support from Iran, several experts consulted by AFP highlight Hamid’s closeness to the leadership of Al Qaeda.
However, Al Qaeda’s influence over Hamas remains limited, as the group operates primarily through its regional affiliates in Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Mali.
Previously, Kursor reported how the United States is helping Israel hunt down Hamas leaders.
The United States began helping Israel find and eliminate the Hamas leadership from the very beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip.
