12 Dec 2023

Hamas demands Palestinian prisoners released

From Morning Report, 7:39 am on 12 December 2023

Hamas is warning no hostage will leave Gaza alive unless its demands for Palestinian prisoners to be released are met.

Intense fighting continues in parts of the Gaza strip -  in the heavily populated Southern city of Khan Younis where civilians were originally told to flee and Gaza is firing rockets into Israel.

Tanks have reached the main north-south road and Israeli aircraft have been attacking an area to the west.

Dozens of people have been killed across Gaza in the past 24 hours according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

They now say over 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Hamas launched its attacks on October 7th.

The Associated Press' Philip Crowther spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Jerusalem.