Hamas, the Palestinian armed political faction that raided Israel, threatened to execute civilian hostages and relay this if Israel’s counteroffensive continues.
According to The Times of Israel, the Hamas armed organization Qassam Brigades issued a statement on the 9th (local time) saying that it would begin executing hostages without prior warning if Israel attacks the Gaza Strip. They said they would kill one hostage each time there was an Israeli airstrike.
“From this time on, any target targeting our people will be met with the execution of (Israeli) civilian hostages without warning,” said Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Qassam Brigades. “This execution will be broadcast on video and audio,” he said. .
The threat comes as Israel intensifies its attacks on the Gaza Strip in response to a Hamas raid last weekend. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike on the Gaza Strip with Air Force aircraft that day.
On the 7th, Hamas launched a surprise operation called ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ in southern Israel, killing civilians and taking some hostage.
In a video released on the Internet, members in black parachutes descended on a music festival held near the Gaza Strip and began shooting at young people who were dancing. The festival site instantly turned into a hell of chaos.
Hundreds of people were shot dead, and those who survived were taken hostage. The armed men forcibly dragged the hostages away on motorcycles or trucks.
The father of the kidnapped woman cried and appealed for her release, saying, “I have done everything in my power to protect, hug, support, and love my daughter since she was born, but these are very difficult times.”
According to the New York Times, Israeli authorities have not yet disclosed the exact number or identity of the kidnapped hostages, but a senior Israeli military official estimated there to be at least 150.
It is reported that the hostages include the elderly and children, as well as foreign nationals from several countries, including the United States and France. This information comes from people looking for missing relatives and friends.
The Hamas militant group claimed that the hostages were hidden in “secure resistance tunnels.”
Israel has pledged ‘bloody revenge’ on Hamas, but there are analyzes that this could be a variable in a retaliatory attack because the safety of the kidnapped hostages can be guaranteed.
Park Tae-geun,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.