A video released by the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, accuses the Israeli occupation forces of deliberately killing captives before returning their bodies, confirming rumors that these captives were supposed to be released in the first stage of the captive exchange deal being discussed during the mediated ceasefire talks.

The video also responds to a recent statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said, "If I had to choose between Philadelphi and retrieving the prisoners, I would choose Philadelphi."

The video ends with footage of Israeli airstrikes on various locations in Gaza, images of the deceased captives, and the statement, "Netanyahu chose the Philadelphi Corridor over the liberation of your captives."

The Israeli occupation forces announced Sunday, that they had found the bodies of six Israeli captives in a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Among the deceased is Israeli-American captive Hirsch Goldberg-Polin. Israeli media reported that the IOF estimates suggest the six captives were killed during recent operations near the tunnels where they were found.

كتائب #القسّام تنشر فيديو جديد بعنوان: نتنياهو يصنع العشرات من "رون أراد"!

نتنياهو اختار محور فيلاديلفيا على تحرير أسراكم!#الوقت_ينفد#حكومتكم_تكذب #الميادين pic.twitter.com/AqTUHGuTVV

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) September 1, 2024

The news of the captives' deaths has sparked widespread anger among settlers in various parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. There are calls for a strike on Monday, with roads to be blocked and people urged to take to the streets in a bid to pressure Netanyahu into negotiating a deal to return the remaining captives.

Expected strikes, growing opposition

The head of the Israeli Labor Union issued a joint statement with the families of the captives, announcing that Ben Gurion Airport would cease operations starting at 8:00 am on Monday. The statement attributed the lack of progress on the captive exchange deal to political considerations and called for a general strike beginning Monday.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on labor unions, employers, and local authorities within the Israeli occupation to disrupt the economy. He also petitioned the Knesset speaker to hold an emergency general meeting to discuss reaching an agreement regarding Gaza.

Lapid criticized Netanyahu and his cabinet, saying, "Netanyahu and the death council decided not to save the six hostages who were alive in Gaza. While there are still hostages alive in the Strip, it is still possible to reach an agreement, but Netanyahu is reluctant for political reasons." He added, "Israel is collapsing, and it is impossible to continue like this."

Two families of the deceased captives refused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to speak with them. Israeli media reported comments from Mossad Chief David Barnea, who remarked that the controversy surrounding the return of Gaza families to northern Gaza was more complex than the issue of the Philadelphi Corridor.

"My personal position is that it would be better to withdraw from Philadelphi and Netzarim to recover the captives; there is no operational need for these two routes," he stressed.

Netanyahu sacrificing captives

Following the announcement of the discovery of the six captives' bodies, the weekly Israeli cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday was canceled. Several ministers have expressed their intention to request the government reconsider its stance on the Philadelphi Corridor to facilitate reaching an agreement that would return the Israeli captives.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted a senior Israeli government official who accused Netanyahu of acting brutally, stating, "Netanyahu knows what he's doing, and his hands are stained with blood."

A Likud minister told the Israeli news site Walla that Netanyahu would find any excuse to stall until all the captives were dead, adding that he had chosen to save his coalition rather than the captives, effectively condemning them to die in captivity.

Israeli media also reported that Security Minister Yoav Gallant is expected to raise the issue of the Philadelphi Corridor at Sunday's cabinet meeting, a move also supported by Shas party leader Aryeh Deri.

Who is Ron Arad?

Ron Arad is an Israeli soldier who was captured by fighters from the Lebanese Resistance movement Amal on October 16, 1986, while carrying out air raids on Resistance positions near the city of Sidon in southern Lebanon. A malfunction in the wing of the Israeli aircraft forced the crew, including Arad and pilot Yishai Aviram, who escaped capture, to eject from the plane.

According to the Israeli Channel 2, Tel Aviv initially believed Arad had been transferred to an Iranian-affiliated group operating in Lebanon. However, Israeli intelligence later concluded that Arad died in the early years of his captivity. Despite this, the occupation still officially considers him missing and has been trying to locate his burial site to reclaim his remains.