Gaza Strip, June 29, 2025 — The Martyr Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, issued a stark warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing political survival over the lives of Israeli captives held in Gaza. In a fiery statement released Saturday, the group declared that "Netanyahu’s political interests will kill your captives," holding the Israeli leadership fully responsible for any future harm that may befall them.
The statement, delivered via the Brigades’ spokesperson, stressed that continued Israeli aggression and hesitation in negotiations are endangering the lives of prisoners. "Each delay, each airstrike, each political maneuver rooted in internal Zionist rivalries puts your captives at risk.
Their fate lies in your government’s hands,” the spokesperson said. This latest declaration comes amidst stalled ceasefire talks and growing pressure from the families of Israeli captives demanding swift action.
Netanyahu, facing mounting domestic political crises and international scrutiny, has yet to reach a deal to secure the release of captives held since the October 7 conflict reignition. Analysts suggest the Al-Qassam Brigades are using the captives as a strategic lever to push for a broader ceasefire agreement and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
However, the group maintains that Israel’s "arrogance and internal calculations" are the real barriers to resolution. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister has remained defiant, reiterating his commitment to military pressure and stating that "security will not be traded for surrender." His stance, however, continues to raise alarm among human rights organizations and hostage families who fear further escalation may prove fatal.
As tensions rise and negotiations remain deadlocked, the lives of the captives hang in the balance — increasingly caught between political chess games and frontline warfare. The Al-Qassam Brigades’ warning underscores a grim reality: unless diplomacy prevails, the cost of political ambition may be measured in human lives.
