Hamas has accused Israel of rejecting a comprehensive ceasefire proposal that would have included the release of all prisoners held in Gaza. In a statement released Friday, Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, confirmed that the group had submitted a full-exchange deal that would have ended the war, secured Israel’s military withdrawal, and allowed unimpeded humanitarian aid into the Strip. The offer was turned down.

“The Israeli government has no genuine interest in the fate of its own prisoners, because they are soldiers,” said Abu Obeida in his first public appearance since March. He warned that if Israel continues to stall or withdraw from indirect negotiations, currently hosted in Qatar, Hamas will not return to fragmented or partial deals, including the proposed 60-day framework.

While the group claims to hold around 50 prisoners, only 20 are believed to be alive. The US has offered vague reassurances, with former President Donald Trump stating that "another 10 prisoners will be released soon", yet no concrete progress has followed. Previous announcements of an imminent ceasefire have repeatedly fallen through.

On the ground, the Israeli military continues to entrench its presence in Gaza, blocking aid corridors and reportedly targeting civilians seeking food. More than 41 Palestinians were killed on Friday alone. Israel is also pushing forward plans to build a detention complex on the ruins of Rafah, drawing sharp criticism.

Since the war began, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports over 58,600 deaths and nearly 140,000 injuries. Hospitals are collapsing, and starvation is now a leading cause of death. Medical staff speak of children arriving in their final hours, emaciated and exhausted. Meanwhile, much of the world remains unmoved.

As the siege grinds on, Palestinians warn that what’s unfolding is not only a war, but a systematic effort to erase an entire people, with silence and complicity echoing louder than any promise of peace.