The families of Israeli prisoners held in the Gaza Strip said on Saturday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is abandoning the detainees in order to preserve his government.

This came during a press conference held by the prisoners' families in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, according to the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

The organization quoted a relative of one of the detainees as saying, "The prime minister of the Jews is abandoning the Jews who are facing a catastrophe. He wants to sacrifice our children in order to maintain his power."

Addressing Netanyahu, he said, "You know that this war is killing detainees and will bury missing persons who will never be found. We demand that you end the war immediately and return everyone at once, now."

In turn, Alon Nimrodi, the father of captive soldier Tamir Nimrodi, told the Israeli Broadcasting Authority: "When the American prisoners in Gaza are released, there will be no means of pressure left to release the detainees."

He continued, asking, "Why do I have to have American citizenship in order for us to be treated better regarding the issue of detainees in Gaza?!"

On Thursday, Hamas announced the resumption of negotiations with mediators in Doha regarding a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, despite Israel's refusal to comply with the agreement and the start of its second phase.

The movement again demonstrated flexibility in negotiations, announcing on Friday its acceptance of the mediators' proposal to release an Israeli-American soldier and the bodies of four dual nationals, in order to resume negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed his response to Hamas's acceptance of the mediators' proposal and attempted to once again place blame on the movement, claiming that it "continues to engage in manipulation and psychological warfare."

Israel seeks to extend the first phase of the agreement, which entered into force on January 19, 2025, to release the largest possible number of Israeli prisoners without offering compensation or fulfilling the military and humanitarian obligations stipulated in the agreement.

While Hamas affirms its commitment to implementing the agreement, demands that Israel abide by all its provisions, and calls on mediators to immediately begin negotiations for the second phase, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a complete cessation of hostilities.

With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving more than 160,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 14,000 missing.