Gaza: Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced on Thursday that the deaths of six Israeli hostages during an airstrike underscore the failure of Israel's military methods for freeing captives. The Israeli military had stated on Wednesday that the six hostages, whose bodies were discovered in Gaza over the summer, were likely shot by their captors in February. This incident occurred around the time an Israeli airstrike hit near their location in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza. According to Anadolu Agency, Hamas issued a statement declaring, "The death of more captives at the hands of their army confirms the failure of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's theory of freeing the captive by force, and that military pressure does not free his hostages, but kills them." Hamas further accused Netanyahu of being directly responsible for the deaths, blaming his inability to reach a diplomatic agreement for the fatalities. "There is no alternative to stopping the aggression, withdrawal of the occupat ion forces, and (reaching) an exchange deal,' it stressed. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Israel, which reportedly holds around 10,000 Palestinians in its prisons, estimates that 101 Israeli captives remain in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas claims that 33 Israeli hostages have died due to indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes in the region. Mediation attempts, led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, to broker a cease-fire and prisoner exchange between the parties have not succeeded, largely due to Netanyahu's refusal to cease military operations. The conflict escalated after Israel launched a significant military campaign in the Gaza Strip following an attack by Hamas in October 2023. This campaign has resulted in over 44,530 deaths, predominantly among women and children, and has left more than 105,500 individuals injured. The ongoing violence has sparked widespread international condemnation, with numerous officials and institutions criticizing the attacks and the block ade of aid as attempts to obliterate the population. Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice regarding its military actions in the region.