Abu Ubaida Holds Netanyahu Fully Responsible for Captives’ Lives

Watan-Abu Ubaida, the military spokesperson for Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, held the Israeli occupation government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, fully responsible for the lives of Israeli captives held in Gaza. He called for negotiations to evacuate or secure their release.

Abu Ubaida stated that “half of the enemy’s living captives are in areas the Israeli army has recently ordered to be evacuated.” He added via his Telegram account: “We have decided not to move these captives from those areas, keeping them under tight but extremely dangerous security procedures that pose a serious risk to their lives.”

The Israeli occupation army continues its escalating aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip and announced today (Friday) the expansion of its ground operation in the north of the enclave, while continuing to target civilians across various areas.

Abu Ubaida stressed that “if the enemy truly cares about the lives of these captives, it must negotiate immediately for their evacuation or release. Consider this a final warning.” He pointed out that “Netanyahu’s government bears full responsibility for the lives of the captives. Had it cared about them, it would have abided by the agreement signed in January—most of them might have been home by now.”

The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on January 19, after 15 months of continuous aggression. It included a halt to the war and an exchange of prisoners and captives. However, Israel did not commit to moving into the second phase of the agreement—which was supposed to unfold in three stages—and obstructed all efforts toward that, citing various pretexts. Then on March 19, it announced that its forces had resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza.

Israeli Security Minister Yisrael Katz announced this Wednesday a major expansion of the military operation in Gaza, stating that large areas of the Strip are to be brought under what he called “Israeli security zones.” Katz said there would be wide-scale evacuations of civilians from combat zones and called on Gaza’s residents to “eliminate Hamas” and return the Israeli captives, claiming this to be the only way to end the war.