Hamas claims Israel declined two more hostages that they wished to release, PM Netanyahu’s office rubbishes the claims

Israel on Saturday decried as "propaganda" a claim made by Hamas that the organization wished to free two more hostages on humanitarian grounds but the former refused to accept them.

Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas' military wing said that they had informed mediating Qatar on Friday of its decision to release two more hostages in addition to the American mother and daughter duo Judith Tai Ranaan and Natalie. Abu Ubaida ldeclared that Hamas was prepared to release the two on Sunday "using the same procedures" that were undertaken to release Judith and Natalie.

Reacting to Hamas’s claims, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement that said, "We will not refer to false propaganda by Hamas… We will continue to act in every way to return all the kidnapped and missing people home."

Qatar, who was mediating in bringing the hostages back to Israel is yet to issue a statement on this matter.

During the devastating attack in southern Israel on October 7, the Palestinian militant group took in at least 210 hostages. Israel retaliated by incessant bombing of the Gaza strip, with the Israeli Prime Minister stating that though they did not start the war, they will finish it. Israel had earlier cut of all supply channels to Gaza and asked the citizens to evacuate before they launched their ground offensive to eradicate the Hamas.