Hamas has called for the release of captives in exchange for an end to the ongoing conflict, Al Jazeera reports

In a statement, the group said, “The escalating calls within the occupying entity to stop the war and free the prisoners confirm [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s responsibility for prolonging the war and for the suffering of his prisoners and our people.”

The statement continued, “The blood of Gaza’s children and the occupation’s prisoners are victims of Netanyahu’s ambitions to remain in power and to escape prosecution.

“The equation is clear: the release of captives in exchange for a cessation of the war. The world accepts it, but Netanyahu rejects it. Every day of delay means more killing of defenceless civilians among our people and an unknown fate for the occupation’s prisoners,” it concluded.