The armed wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, has announced new directives for guards overseeing Israeli hostages in Gaza, according to spokesperson Abu Obaida on Monday. The updated instructions come as tensions escalate between Hamas and Israel, with military confrontations intensifying.
The announcement follows Israel’s recent recovery of six hostage bodies from a tunnel in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza. The Israeli military has accused Hamas of responsibility for their deaths, while Obaida shifted the blame onto Israel, asserting that their actions led to these fatalities.
Obaida did not disclose specifics of the new directives but indicated that the instructions were implemented after a deadly rescue operation in June. In that raid, Israeli forces freed four hostages, but the operation resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, including civilians.
The Hamas spokesperson issued a stark warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the continued reliance on military pressure rather than negotiating a deal could lead to hostages being returned in shrouds. He urged the families of hostages to consider whether they want their loved ones returned alive or dead.
Negotiations between Hamas and Israel have stalled, with both sides unable to agree on terms that would end the conflict and secure the release of hostages. Hamas demands an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as part of any deal. However, Netanyahu remains firm that the war will only conclude once Hamas is defeated.