Tel Aviv, March 7, (dpa/GNA) – The Palestinian militant organization, Hamas, is threatening to kill hostages if the Israeli army resumes fighting in the Gaza Strip.
“Any escalation of aggression” against the Palestinian people would lead to the killing of a number of those abducted, Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida said in a video address. He held Israel responsible for the death of the hostages as well as for not adhering to the Gaza deal.
According to Israeli information, Islamists in the Gaza Strip are still holding 24 hostages, and 35 bodies of those abducted.
Among the living hostages is a young soldier, who holds both Israeli and German nationality, according to Israeli sources. Additionally, a Thai national and the bodies of several other foreigners are being held.
Hostages who have been released have reported hunger and mistreatment at the hands of Hamas and other Islamists. The families of the abducted fear that time is running out for the remaining living hostages.
Last weekend, the first phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamist Hamas expired. So far, the conflicting parties have been unable to agree on an extension of the agreement.
Israel had threatened that the war in the Gaza Strip would resume, if further hostages were not released.
GNA