The Israeli military said it was investigating, but could not refute or confirm claims that a separate incident caused casualties.
Hamas militants say one Israeli prisoner has been killed and two women wounded in the Gaza Strip, days before new ceasefire talks proposed by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, said in a statement via Telegram on Monday that the Israeli prisoner was killed by his guards.
He added that efforts were underway to save the lives of the two seriously injured people and that a committee had been formed to investigate and further details would be released as they became available.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the matter was being investigated. “At this time, we have no information to refute or confirm Hamas’ claims,” Hagari wrote on X.
Israeli protesters have been gathering weekly to demand a ceasefire agreement that would allow the prisoners to return. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been criticized for failing to finalize an agreement and for escalating tensions with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The near-daily border clashes between the Lebanese group and Israeli forces, which have been ongoing since the current conflict in Gaza in October, have escalated. Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in Beirut hours after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran.
On Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting after Israel attacked a school and shelter in Gaza City, killing more than 100 Palestinians.
This is the 24th special meeting of the UN Security Council since the war in Gaza began on October 7.
The UNSC has so far failed to stop the conflict, as the death toll in the region approaches 40,000. An emergency meeting was held on October 30 to call for a ceasefire when the death toll was 8,000, but the death toll has since increased nearly fivefold.
On May 24, the UN Security Council met to pass a resolution condemning the killings of UN staff and aid workers. Since then, 15 UN staff have been killed, and many more humanitarian workers have been killed.
The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 39,897 people have been killed and 92,152 wounded since October. Hamas-led attacks have killed about 1,139 Israelis and taken more than 200 prisoners.
Qatar, Egypt and the United States are set to resume Gaza ceasefire talks on August 15.
Hamas has asked mediators to come up with a plan based on proposals made by U.S. President Joe Biden rather than trying to find a new deal.
According to the U.S. State Department, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Monday with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan about “the importance of Hamas returning to negotiations this week” and finalizing “a framework to achieve an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and release all hostages.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Fidan had urged Israel to avoid “provocative actions” that could escalate tensions and that Hamas had shown a “constructive attitude” in past ceasefire talks.
According to a Turkish government spokesman, he added that Haniya’s assassination in Iran on July 31 and “the ongoing massacre of Palestinians have once again demonstrated Israel’s unwillingness to build peace.”
