Hamas: 'The blood of Gaza children and Israeli captives are victims of Netanyahu's ambitions'

Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritising his political ambitions over the lives of Israeli captives held in Gaza alongside the Palestinian population in the besieged enclave.

"The blood of Gaza children and Israeli prisoners are victims of Netanyahu's ambitions to stay in power and to escape trial," Hamas said in a statement published in Arabic and Hebrew.

The Palestinian movement warned that delays in an agreement would result in the killing of more Palestinian civilians and "an unknown fate" for the captives.

"The equation is clear: the release of the prisoners in exchange for ending the war... the world accepts it and Netanyahu rejects it."