Hamas declared on Sunday that Israeli captives held in Gaza will not be freed through military escalation, emphasizing that their release hinges on a formal prisoner exchange agreement.

The statement came amid intensified Israeli bombardment of the enclave and renewed diplomatic efforts in Cairo.

In a strongly worded statement, Hamas condemned Israel’s military operations as a “bloody and criminal attempt” to pressure the Palestinian resistance. The group accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing progress, warning that escalation would not secure the captives’ return but instead jeopardize their fate. “Netanyahu and his government will not make any progress in the prisoner file without a swap deal,” Hamas stated, calling the military approach a “losing gamble.”

Hamas reiterated that only a political decision, which it claims Netanyahu refuses to make, can resolve the issue. “The Israeli captives will not return through escalation but through the decision Netanyahu rejects,” the statement read.

The announcement followed confirmation on Saturday that a Hamas delegation, led by senior leader Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The discussions focus on proposals for a ceasefire, a potential prisoner swap, and an end to Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza.

The escalation coincides with rising civilian casualties in Gaza, where Hamas accuses Israel of targeting civilians to gain leverage in negotiations. The prisoner exchange remains a key sticking point, with mediators seeking a deal to free hostages in Gaza in return for Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons. (ILKHA)