Netanyahu to Blame for Deaths of Israeli Captives: Hamas
Abu Obaida announced on Monday that the group has issued new instructions to guards on how to handle the captives if Israeli forces approach their locations in Gaza.
On Sunday, the Israeli regime’s military reported the recovery of the bodies of six captives from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, claiming that Hamas was responsible for their deaths. Abu Obaida said the resistance group holds Israel responsible for the deaths.
He said the new instructions, which he did not detail, were given to guards of captives after a rescue operation by Israel in June. At that time, Israeli forces freed four hostages in a deadly raid in which hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children, were killed.
“Netanyahu’s insistence to free prisoners through military pressure, instead of sealing a deal means they will be returned to their families in shrouds. Their families must choose whether they want them dead or alive,” he said.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Netanyahu's accusations against Hamas were an attempt to escape responsibility for their deaths.
"Netanyahu killed the six prisoners and he is determined to kill the remaining ones. The Israelis should choose between Netanyahu or the deal," Abu Zuhri said.
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Similarly, Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement published by the resistance movement on Monday: “The resistance's captives can immediately return to their families. The [one] stalling their return and responsible for their lives is Netanyahu."
Israel has refused to agree to a deal that would end the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and see the release of Israeli and foreign captives held in the Palestinian enclave in return for many Palestinians jailed by Israel.
Hamas wants any agreement to end the war and get Israeli forces out of Gaza while Netanyahu says the war can only end once Hamas is defeated, which analysts say is out of the question.
Source: Agencies
