DaysofPal- Hamas has accused the Israeli occupation of rejecting a comprehensive ceasefire deal that would have secured the release of all captives currently held in the Gaza Strip.
In a prerecorded video released Friday, Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, stated that the group had recently offered a full-exchange proposal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government turned it down.
“It’s become evident that Netanyahu’s criminal government is not serious about the fate of the captives, because they are soldiers,” Abu Obeida said in his first video address since March. He added that Hamas’s proposal would have ended the war, guaranteed the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and allowed unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The rejection of the deal has stalled indirect negotiations currently taking place in Qatar. Abu Obeida warned that if the Israeli occupation withdraws from these talks, Hamas will not return to partial arrangements, including a 60-day plan being discussed, which would involve the release of 10 captives.
According to Hamas, the group still holds around 50 captives, with approximately 20 believed to be alive.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking during a dinner with lawmakers at the White House on Friday, claimed that “another 10 captives will be released soon,” asserting that most had already been returned. However, Trump provided no details, and repeated predictions of an imminent ceasefire have so far yielded no results.
In a televised statement, Abu Obeida also signaled that Hamas is prepared for a prolonged conflict if no deal is reached, vowing to continue ambushes and attacks targeting Israeli forces in Gaza. He also condemned the silence of Arab and Muslim leaders, accusing them of complicity in the ongoing Israeli offensive.
“The blood of tens of thousands of innocent people is on your hands,” he said, referring to the inaction of regional governments in the face of what he described as genocide.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to tighten their grip on Gaza, demanding military control over key corridors that separate different parts of the enclave, including the Morag and Magen Oz corridors. Aid remains largely blocked, and Israeli troops have been accused of shooting starving civilians at food distribution points, including those operated by the controversial Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
At the same time, the Israeli occupation is moving ahead with controversial plans to construct a detention facility on the ruins of Rafah, prompting widespread international criticism.
On Friday alone, at least 41 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks, according to medical sources.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reports that more than 58,667 Palestinians have been killed and 139,974 wounded since the Israeli genocide on Gaza began in October 2023. Since the collapse of the last ceasefire in March, 7,843 have been killed and nearly 28,000 injured.
Health officials warn of a dramatic rise in deaths linked to starvation, with hospitals overwhelmed by children and adults arriving in critical condition due to malnutrition and exhaustion. The ministry described the humanitarian situation as “unprecedented,” with a growing number of patients dying from preventable causes amid the ongoing blockade and destruction of Gaza’s medical infrastructure.
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