Hamas Announces New Instructions on Handling Hostages as Israeli-Hamas Deal Fails

Strategic Insights -

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which has been holding Israeli hostages in Gaza, has said that since June, it has been operating under new instructions on how to handle hostages when Israeli forces approach their locations. Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, announced this policy change after the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Israeli officials claim that the hostages were shot dead by their Hamas captors as Israeli forces closed in. Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, stated that his group holds Israel responsible for the hostages' deaths and criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for using military pressure to free prisoners, implying that it would lead to their deaths.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, announced new instructions on handling hostages on June, following a rescue operation by Israel that freed four hostages but resulted in dozens of Palestinian casualties.
  • The new instructions were issued after Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages, which Hamas claims were shot dead as Israeli forces approached.
  • Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for using military pressure to free prisoners, implying that it would lead to their deaths.
  • Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accused Netanyahu of killing the six hostages and blamed him for their deaths.
  • Hamas member Ezzat El Rashq stated that the hostages could return to their families immediately, but blamed Netanyahu for stalling their release and putting their lives at risk.
  • The Israeli-Hamas deal to end the war and release Israeli and foreign hostages held in Gaza has failed, with Hamas wanting an agreement to end the war and get Israeli forces out of Gaza, while Netanyahu insists on Hamas' defeat before the end of the war.

Statistics:

  • June: the month during which Hamas announced new instructions on handling hostages.
  • 4: the number of hostages freed by Israel in a raid in June.
  • dozens: the number of Palestinian casualties resulting from the Israeli rescue operation.
  • 6: the number of hostages found dead by Israeli forces in a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
  • %: no specific percentage mentioned in the article.

Sources:

  • Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades. Cited in the article as saying Hamas holds Israel responsible for the hostages' deaths.
  • Sami Abu Zuhri, senior Hamas official. Cited in the article as saying Netanyahu killed the six prisoners.
  • Ezzat El Rashq, member of the Hamas political bureau. Cited in the article as saying the hostages could return to their families immediately.