Hamas senior official Bassem Naim warned that the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) operations in Gaza City could jeopardize hostages held by terrorist groups. Naim, who was targeted in previous strikes, expressed concern that Israeli actions could lead to more casualties among hostages, which he stated include at least 20 individuals believed to still be alive out of 48 overall.
He accused Israel of misleading the public regarding hostage negotiations, suggesting that their military operations were harming the hostages. Families of the hostages have protested outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, expressing fears that the ground operations would put their loved ones at greater risk.
Hamas’s military division also echoed these concerns, threatening that as long as Israel engages in military action, they would not ensure the safety of the hostages. They referenced the fate of a missing Israeli Airman from the 1986 Lebanon conflict to underline their stance.
Source link
