Syrian lawyer claims imprisoned Palestinian terrorists are “hostages” as are Israeli civilians in Hamas captivity
Syrian lawyer Muhammad Na'im Akbik: "We must not confuse a captive with a hostage. There are Palestinian hostages, civilians (i.e., terrorist prisoners). According to a special agreement for eliminating the taking of hostages called the New York Agreement, movements of liberation from occupation and colonialism are allowed to take hostages from the occupation's forces in the occupied territories… The [current] agreement [between Israel and Hamas] must differentiate between prisoners and hostages… I have hostages, and I am allowed to take hostages to exchange hostages for hostages."
[Official PA TV, Capital of Capitals, Jan. 22, 2025]