Gaza city: A senior Hamas official has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to kill Israeli hostages in Gaza by starving them, after failing to locate and eliminate them through airstrikes. In a statement released on Sunday, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, condemned the Israeli government's imposition of starvation and thirst on Gaza's population, which he claims is now impacting the Israeli captives as well. Al-Rishq placed the responsibility for the hostages' dire condition squarely on the Israeli government.

According to Anadolu Agency, al-Rishq emphasized that Palestinian resistance forces are treating Israeli hostages according to religious and humanitarian principles, sharing their limited food and water supplies with the captives, just as they do with the broader Palestinian population. He noted that in previous prisoner exchanges, Israeli captives were released in good physical and mental health. However, he claimed that the current situation has led to hunger, weakness, and weight loss among the hostages, reflecting the plight faced by the besieged residents of Gaza.

Al-Rishq further accused Netanyahu of surrounding the hostages with oppression and attempting to discipline them through hunger. He alleged that the policy of starvation in Gaza forms a part of Netanyahu's strategy to resolve the hostage issue. 'When Netanyahu could not find the hostages and kill them through airstrikes, he is now trying to end the matter by starving them,' al-Rishq stated.

Israeli estimates suggest that 50 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. In contrast, Israel is reportedly holding more than 10,800 Palestinian detainees, many of whom are said to face torture, starvation, and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights groups.

The Israeli army has maintained a relentless offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of over 60,800 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the offensive continues. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice regarding its actions in the enclave.