Hamas accuses Netanyahu of obstructing Gaza ceasefire as he says full captive deal not possible

CAIRO – 11 July 2025: Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “malicious and ill intentions” as he ruled out a comprehensive deal for the release of all captives at once at the present time.

“It is not possible to reach a comprehensive deal for the release of all hostages,” Netanyahu told families of captives this week, according to Israeli ynetnews.

He then tried to persuade them to endorse a partial agreement, saying that he and US President Donald Trump “have plans that I won't discuss.”

As part of the proposed 60-day ceasefire, Israel looks forward to the release of 10 living captives, around half of the living captives still held by Hamas in Gaza, in addition to 18 dead captives.

“The release of 10 hostages during the first 60 days of the deal is part of the process, and after that, they're already talking about ending the war. We need to be patient,” Netanyahu told the families of captives, according to Israeli reports.

In a Telegram post, Hamas stressed that it had previously offered the release of all captives at once in exchange for a permanent cessation of Gaza aggression, a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army, and unimpeded flow of aid.

“However, Netanyahu rejected this offer at the time and continues to evade and add more obstacles.”

“The war criminal Netanyahu's statements, in which he informed the families of the prisoners about the impossibility of reaching a comprehensive deal, confirm his malicious and ill intentions.”

“He is placing obstacles in the way of reaching an agreement that would lead to the release of prisoners and the cessation of aggression against our Palestinian people in Gaza.”

Hamas and Israel are engaged in indirect talks to reach a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, which has suffered unrelenting war that has killed over 57,000 Palestinians since October 2023.

'Israel Considers War Resumption'

If agreed, the two sides are set to discuss an end to the war in exchange for the release of all captives. However, Israel also insists that Hamas must disarm in order for a permanent ceasefire to be achieved – a demand that Hamas has repeatedly rejected.

“At the beginning of this ceasefire, we will enter negotiations for a permanent end to the war,” Netanyahu said in a video message, stressing that Hamas must “lay down its weapons” and abandon its “governing and military capabilities”.

“If this can be achieved through negotiations, great. If it cannot be achieved through negotiations within 60 days, we will achieve it through other means, by using force, the force of our heroic army,” he added.

“We were told, ‘You will not return to war,’ after the first ceasefire, and we did return,” Israeli reports quoted Netanyahu as saying. “We were told ‘You will not resume your fight,’ after the second ceasefire, and we did.”

“Now they’re saying ‘You will not continue fighting’ after the third ceasefire. Do I need to say more?”

Israeli forces continue to kill dozens of Palestinians in Gaza every day despite growing hope for a possible ceasefire soon. The enclave’s health ministry said on Thursday hospitals received 82 deceased and 247 injured people in 24 hours.

Since the start of the Gaza war, Israel has killed 57,762 Palestinians, including 7,200 since Israeli forces in March shattered a ceasefire brokered by mediators that led to the release of dozens of Israeli captives and allowed thousands of aid trucks to access the famine-stricken enclave.