The terrorist group Hamas threatened, this Monday, 9, Kill the civilians being held hostage in response to the bombings of Israel Against that Gaza Strip. There will be one execution for each bombing, according to a statement from the group’s armed wing. It is estimated that around 150 Israelis are being held hostage in the Gaza Strip since Invasion of Israeli territory.
Abu Obeida, spokesman for Qassam BrigadesHamas’ armed wing said in an audio recording released this evening (local time, early afternoon in Brazil) that the threat was a response to Israel’s intense airstrikes on civilian areas.
Israel began dropping bombs on the Gaza Strip after the terrorist group attacked Israeli territory and last Saturday, during a Jewish holiday, carried out massacres of civilians and military personnel. The faction fired a series of rockets that hit major Israeli cities and sent fighters across the border into southern Israel. where they occupied bases and captured the hostages.
Continued after advertising: Israelis captured from Kibbutz Kfar Azza are brought to Gaza by Hamas terrorists. Photo: Hatem Ali/AP
“We have decided to put an end to this and declare from now on that any attack on our people in their homes without prior warning will unfortunately result in the execution of one of the civilians we are holding hostage,” said the speaker said.
In a video statement, Israel’s foreign minister warned Hamas of the consequences if one of the hostages was injured. Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home “in a spirit of mutual responsibility.”
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“We demand that Hamas not harm any of the hostages,” Cohen said. “This war crime will not be forgiven,” he added.
In addition to the Hamas hostages, also the head of the Palestinian group Islamic JihadZiad alNakhala said his faction is holding more than 30 of the kidnapped Israelis in captivity. The hostages would not be repatriated “until all our prisoners are released,” alNakhala added, referring to the thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
On the weekend, Videos of Hamas’ capture of Israelis spread on social media, including women and the elderly. A video released by the family of a kidnapped couple shows the two being kidnapped by Hamas terrorists at the site of a music festival hit by attacks.
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Later, Hamas itself released a video showing 25yearold Noa Argamani drinking water on a sofa, already in captivity, and wearing the same clothes as when she was abducted. In an interview with The New York Times, the victim’s family confirmed what happened. A relative claims the video shows Argamani and her boyfriend Avinatan Or.
The couple were at a music festival with around 3,500 people less than 5 kilometers from the IsraelGaza borderwhere 260 bodies were later found.
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Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ terrorist attacks There will be a total siege of the Gaza Strip, likely followed by a military invasion, the government announced on Monday.
In parallel with a heavy bombardment of Palestinian territory, the Israeli army regained “complete control” of the locations in southern Israel that had been attacked since the start of the offensive. Hamas’s death toll in Israel reached 800 and that of Palestinians in Gaza reached 560. According to both authorities, the number of public holidays on the Israeli side is already over 2,400 and on the Palestinian side 2,900.
“We are in control of the communities,” Israeli army spokesman General Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement to the press, adding that “there may still be terrorists in the area.”
Continued after advertisement: Israeli soldiers and civilians take cover after an audible warning of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip on October 9th. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
The Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallantpromised to leave the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the enclave without electricity, food, water and gas.
Since the invasion, Israeli forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Gaza, including one today that destroyed a market in northern Gaza, killing dozens of people.
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According to Israeli authorities, the attacks targeted websites linked to Hamas. U.N. and Palestinian officials said a hospital, homes and mosques were hit.
By mobilizing 300,000 reservists, Israel sent troops and tanks south to prepare for the next phase of the war, which analysts say could include a ground invasion of Gaza.
However, it appeared unlikely that such an operation would begin until Israel had secured its own territory, and its timing and scope remain unclear as Hamas and other militants hold many Israelis hostage./AFP, AP and NYT