News - Hamas threatens to begin executing hostages in response to strikes in Gaza

The Hamas movement has threatened to execute Israeli hostages if the Israeli army carries out strikes without warning in Gaza, The Times of Israel reports. “From this hour, any targeting of our people in the safety of their homes, without warning, will be met with the execution of civilian hostages, which will be broadcast with video and audio,” a representative of Hamas was quoted as saying. The Israeli military has decided to carry out strikes on the Gaza Strip even in cases where it would potentially pose a threat to the hostages held there, The Times of Israel reports, citing senior sources in Israel. “A senior Israeli government official told reporters that authorities have decided they will carry out heavy strikes against terrorists in Gaza, even if it poses a risk to Israelis held there,” the newspaper writes. At the same time, the source notes that in cases where verified information is received that there are definitely hostages in a particular building in Gaza, then in such cases Israeli military strikes will not be carried out.