Qatar: The spokesperson of Hamas’s military wing, Abu Obeida, announced on Friday that Israel has rejected a ceasefire deal that would have included the release of all captives held in Gaza. In a nearly 20-minute prerecorded video, Abu Obeida stated that Hamas had offered a comprehensive agreement in recent months to free all captives simultaneously, but it was turned down by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right ministers.
Abu Obeida accused Netanyahu’s government of lacking genuine interest in the captives, whom Hamas says are mostly soldiers. He emphasized that Hamas seeks a deal ensuring an end to the conflict, Israeli withdrawal, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians under siege.
He warned that if Israel pulls out of the ongoing indirect talks in Qatar, Hamas will not guarantee any partial agreements, including a proposed 60-day truce that involves releasing 10 captives. Hamas currently holds 50 captives in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, speaking at a dinner with lawmakers at the White House, claimed that another 10 captives would be released soon, saying, “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,” though he did not provide further details. Trump has repeatedly predicted an imminent ceasefire and hostage deal, but no breakthrough has yet occurred.
In his message, Abu Obeida also declared that Hamas fighters are prepared for a prolonged battle of attrition, promising continued ambushes aimed at killing or capturing invading Israeli soldiers. He sharply criticized Arab and Islamic leaders for their silence, accusing them of betraying Palestinians amid what he described as an Israeli “genocide,” saying, “Your necks are burdened with the blood of tens of thousands of innocents who were betrayed by your silence.”
The ceasefire talks in Doha have so far failed to produce results, with Israel insisting on maintaining and expanding military control over Gaza. This includes control of the Morag Corridor and the newly established Magen Oz Corridor, which separate Rafah and Khan Younis in the south from the rest of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces continue to block humanitarian aid to the besieged population while conducting lethal operations that have killed starving Palestinians at facilities managed by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF). Israel is also moving forward with plans to build a concentration camp on the ruins of Rafah despite widespread international condemnation.
Medical sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that at least 41 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Friday. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 58,667 Palestinians have died and 139,974 have been injured since the war began in October 2023. Since Israel broke the last ceasefire in March, at least 7,843 have been killed and 27,993 wounded.
The ministry further reported an unprecedented influx of severely malnourished patients of all ages, including children, arriving at the emergency departments of the few remaining partially functioning hospitals in Gaza, many suffering extreme exhaustion and fatigue.