Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida on Saturday said Israeli authorities refused to accept two captives they wished to release through Qatar mediation.
The revelation comes as the Israeli government is facing criticism from families of hostages for not prioritising their release.
Ubaida said they informed Qatar of the offer made for “compelling humanitarian reasons”.
“We informed our Qatari brothers yesterday evening that we would release Nourit Yitshaq and Yokhfed Lipschitz for humanitarian reasons and without expecting anything in return. However, the Israeli occupation government refused to accept them,” he said on Telegram, Al Jazeera reported.
There is no immediate response from Israel and Qatar.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke to his US counterpart Antony Blinken in a phone call on Saturday on the hostage issue.
Qatar played a key role in the release of two American hostages, Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan by Hamas.
