The statement was made online on Friday by Mustafa Hamid, who is the father-in-law of Saif al-Adel, who is generally believed to lead the network, according to the American intelligence group Site, which monitors extremism on the internet.
Hamid believes that the attention given to bringing home the Israeli hostages – both dead and alive – overshadows the issue of the Palestinian prisoners sitting in Israeli prisons.
Furthermore, he praises Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli attack on Wednesday.
"No one cares about the Palestinian prisoners, neither media, negotiations, nor demonstrations," part of the statement reads.
Over 100 Israeli hostages remain in captivity in Gaza since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 last year. However, it is unclear how many of the hostages are still alive.
Terror-listed Hamas stated on Friday that the group will not release the hostages until the war has ended.
al-Qaida is held responsible for a number of deadly terrorist attacks, including the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon in the USA on September 11, 2001.
