Hamas: Israeli Airstrike Kills Hostage in Gaza as Netanyahu Faces Backlash Over War Strategy
Hamas Accuses Israel of Prioritizing Political Survival Over Hostage Safety, as Israeli Families Condemn Government for Abandoning Captives.
Watan-A senior Hamas official revealed that an Israeli airstrike on Gaza resulted in the death of one Israeli hostage and injuries to others after Israel resumed military operations in the territory.
The Hamas leader stated on Tuesday that this was exactly what the resistance had warned about—hostages cannot leave Gaza except through negotiations. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to eliminate the hostages rather than securing their release through political negotiations, in an effort to avoid the political consequences of his failure.
Hamas: We Complied with Ceasefire Terms, Israel Rejected Negotiations
The official emphasized that Hamas had positively engaged with the ceasefire agreement from the beginning, fulfilling all its commitments, while Israel—backed by the U.S.—refused to advance to the second phase of the deal.
He also revealed that Hamas had agreed to a proposal from former Trump envoy Adam Boehler to release one Israeli-American hostage and four bodies of dual nationals, as a first step toward the second phase of negotiations.
However, Israel rejected Boehler’s proposal, leading to a new initiative by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Wietkoff, who proposed:
- The release of half of the living Israeli hostages and half of the deceased
- 50 days of calm in exchange
- But Wietkoff refused to include the transition to the second phase as part of the deal
Israeli Hostage Families Accuse Netanyahu of Abandoning Prisoners
On Tuesday, the Israeli Hostage Families Forum issued a statement condemning the government’s decision to resume fighting, saying:”The worst fears of the hostage families and the Israeli people have come true—Israel’s government has chosen to abandon the hostages. We are shocked, angry, and deeply concerned over the deliberate collapse of negotiations aimed at bringing our loved ones home from Hamas’ grasp.”
The statement added:”Resuming combat before retrieving the last hostage will come at the expense of the 59 remaining hostages in Gaza, who could still be rescued and returned.”
Hamas Accuses U.S. and Israel of Deception
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem also responded to the threats made by U.S. envoy Steve Wietkoff regarding Hamas’ rejection of the American-led hostage exchange proposal.
Qassem argued that negotiations collapsed because of Netanyahu’s far-right government, which fears the consequences of entering the second phase of the agreement.
He emphasized that Netanyahu’s biggest concern is the collapse of his ruling coalition, as right-wing parties may withdraw if he proceeds with the deal.Qassem concluded:
“The only real or positive path forward is forcing this government to implement the agreed-upon ceasefire terms.”
