The military wing of Hamas has accused Israel of rejecting a ceasefire agreement that would release all captives held in Gaza. Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, stated in a prerecorded video released on Friday that the group had offered a comprehensive deal to release all captives at once, but it was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right ministers.
“It has become clear to us that the government of the criminal Netanyahu has no real interest in the captives because they are soldiers,” Abu Obeida said, adding that Hamas favors a deal that guarantees an end to the war, withdrawal of Israeli forces, and entry of humanitarian aid for besieged Palestinians. He warned that if Israel withdraws from the current round of indirect talks held in Qatar, Hamas does not guarantee a return to any partial deals, including a 60-day deal currently under discussion that would see 10 captives released.
Abu Obeida also expressed frustration with the inaction of Arab and Islamic nations in the face of Israel’s actions, saying, “Your necks are burdened with the blood of tens of thousands of innocents who were betrayed by your silence.” He emphasized that Hamas fighters are “ready to continue a long battle of attrition” and will keep up ambushes across Gaza with the aim of killing or capturing invading Israeli soldiers.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with at least 41 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces on Friday, according to medical sources. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that over 58,667 Palestinians have been killed and 139,974 others wounded since the start of the war in October 2023. The ministry also noted that an unprecedented number of starved people, including children, are arriving at emergency departments in a state of extreme exhaustion and fatigue.
In contrast, US President Donald Trump claimed during a dinner with lawmakers at the White House that another 10 captives will soon be released from Gaza, stating, “We got most of the hostages back. We’re going to have another 10 coming very shortly, and we hope to have that finished quickly.” However, no details were provided, and it’s unclear when or if this release will occur.