Abu Ubaida: Occupation Targeted Captive Post-Ceasefire Announcement

Watan-Abu Ubaida, the military spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, stated today, Thursday, that after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the Israeli army targeted a location containing one of the captives intended for the first phase of the anticipated prisoner exchange deal. He added on his Telegram account that “any aggression or bombing during this phase by the enemy could turn a prisoner’s freedom into a tragedy.”

Last Monday, Abu Ubaida mentioned that “after more than 100 days of the comprehensive destruction and genocide carried out by the enemy’s army in the northern Gaza Strip, our fighters continue to inflict heavy losses on it and deliver severe blows.” He added: “We affirm that the losses within the ranks of the failing occupation army are far greater than what is being publicly acknowledged.

The enemy will retreat from the northern sector, defeated and dragging its tail in shame, without being able to break the resilience of the resistance. The only achievement it has made is destruction, devastation, and massacres against innocent civilians.”

As the Gaza war enters its 468th day, dozens of martyrs and injured have fallen due to Israeli bombing, despite mediators announcing a ceasefire agreement set to take effect next Sunday. On Thursday, Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha confirmed that the movement had delivered its response and is “committed to what was agreed upon yesterday in Doha and what the mediators announced,” emphasizing their rejection of the Israeli occupation’s policy of stalling and procrastination.

This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of backtracking on certain understandings regarding the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which prevented the Security and Political Cabinet (the “cabinet”) from convening to approve it.

A statement issued by Netanyahu’s office on Thursday claimed that “Hamas is reneging on the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis, preventing the agreement’s conclusion. Hamas is retreating from the explicit agreements reached with the mediators and with Israel in a last-minute attempt at extortion. Israel will not set a date for the cabinet and government meeting until the mediators announce that Hamas has agreed to all the details of the agreement.”