Hamas said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "misleading" the international community after he addressed the U.S. Congress and called for expedited military aid to his country.

"Netanyahu's talk about intensified efforts to return the hostages is a complete lie and misleading Israeli, American and international public opinion, while he is the one who thwarted all efforts aimed at ending the war and concluding a deal to release the prisoners, despite the continuous efforts of mediators from our brothers in Egypt and Qatar," the Palestinian militant group said in a statement Wednesday.