Hamas releases statement on handover of 'Israeli' captive bodies

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a statement regarding the handover of four 'Israeli' captive bodies, underscoring their commitment to treating the deceased with dignity, despite the harsh circumstances they faced.

The brigades emphasized that, while they ensured the safety and humane treatment of the 'Israeli' captives, the Israeli Occupation army demonstrated a complete disregard for their lives when they were alive.

"We safeguarded the lives of Israeli captives, provided them with what we could, and treated them humanely, but their own army killed them along with their captors," the statement read. The brigades criticized the Israeli Occupation military for bombing the very detention sites where the captives were held, resulting in their deaths.

The brigades further accused the 'Israeli' government of being responsible for the deaths of the captives due to its repeated obstruction of a prisoner exchange deal. "The Israeli army bombed the detention sites, killing its own captives. The Israeli government bears full responsibility, as it repeatedly obstructed the prisoner exchange deal," the statement declared.

Al-Qassam Brigades also took issue with Israeli Occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public mourning for the captives, accusing him of attempting to avoid accountability for their deaths. "Today, Netanyahu mourns the bodies of his captives, who returned to him in coffins, in a clear attempt to evade responsibility before his people for their deaths," the brigades said, further asserting that the public grieving was a political move.

While expressing regret that the captives did not return alive, the brigades pointed out that it was the actions of the Israeli Occupation military that led to their deaths. "We would have preferred for your loved ones to return alive, but your military and government leaders chose to kill them rather than secure their release," the statement read.

The brigades also emphasized the immense loss of life resulting from 'Israeli' bombings in Gaza, with a staggering number of Palestinian children being killed. "Along with them, 17,881 Palestinian children have been killed in Israel’s brutal bombardment of Gaza. We know you understand who is truly responsible for their deaths," the statement noted.

Finally, the brigades reiterated their stance that the only way to return captives alive is through a prisoner exchange. "We reaffirm that prisoner exchange is the only way to return captives alive to their families. Any attempt to retrieve them through military force or continued war will only result in more losses among the captives," they concluded.

The statement from Al-Qassam Brigades emphasizes the brutality of the ongoing conflict and the difficulties in securing the release of captives while under constant bombardment, stressing the importance of prisoner exchanges as the only viable solution.