Hamas’ armed wing has issued a dire warning, vowing to execute an Israeli civilian captive in response to any future Israeli bombings of civilian residences without prior warnings.
Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing known as the IQB, asserted that their actions align with Islamic principles aimed at safeguarding Israeli captives.
“We have decided to put an end to this, and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one of the hostages among the civilians we are holding,” stated Abu Obaida.
Gaza City endured significant devastation from airstrikes in retaliation for a surprise attack initiated by Hamas on Saturday. Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, issued a video statement on Monday, warning Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and are currently held in Gaza.
Cohen emphasized Israel’s commitment to bringing these hostages home “in the spirit of mutual responsibility.”
“We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages,” Cohen urged, firmly labeling such actions as war crimes that would not be forgiven.
Since the weekend, dozens of individuals are believed to have been taken hostage in Israel by Hamas fighters, with reports suggesting they are being held at various locations across Gaza.The Israel Defense Forces disclosed that on October 9, they conducted over 500 strikes on targets throughout the Gaza Strip overnight.
According to Palestinian officials, the airstrikes resulted in nearly 500 casualties, including 91 children, and left over 2,700 people injured.
Earlier in the day, Israel had imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, depriving its 2.3 million residents of electricity, food, and fuel. The country’s defense minister justified this action by stating, “We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.”
Furthermore, the European Union (EU) has announced its intention to review all development funding to the Palestinian territories in response to Hamas’ attack on Israel.
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