Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, issued a warning on Friday, cautioning that Israel’s attempts to occupy Gaza City would have severe consequences for its political and military leadership.
He stated that the Israeli army would “pay with the blood of its soldiers” and suggested that the possibility of Hamas capturing additional Israeli troops would increase. According to him, Qassam fighters remain on high alert and fully prepared for further Israeli ground operations.
Odeida also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ‘Nazi’ ministers of deliberately seeking to reduce the number of living Israeli captives in Gaza, claiming many of their bodies could be permanently lost due to ongoing assaults. He emphasized that Israel and its government would bear full responsibility for the fate of the captives.
He further said that Hamas would continue to protect the prisoners “to the best of its ability,” despite them being held in active combat zones, given they are “in the areas of combat and confrontation, under the same risky conditions”.
Abu Obeida added that the group would release the names, photos, and proof of death of any captives killed as a result of Israeli attacks.