Hamas issued a warning in an internal statement, threatening to neutralise hostages if Israel carries out a rescue operation similar to one conducted in Gaza’s Nuseirat camp in June.
The statement, dated November 22, stated that Israel intended to launch such a mission and made clear that Hamas operatives should follow orders without concern for potential consequences. It also held Israel responsible for the captives’ fate, but did not specify when the operation might occur.
This threat comes due to increasing pressure on Hamas, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz suggesting that progress could be made toward a hostage deal.
However, the situation remains tense after Hamas had offered on October 9 or 10 2023 to release all the civilian captives in exchange for Israeli occupation forces not entering the Strip, however Israel refused and launched its airstrikes and invasion on the Strip in which over 44,500 Palestinians have been killed, over 11,000 are missing and 105,000 injured, according to the Palestine health ministry.
