Hamas Threatens To Kill All Israeli Hostages in Gaza, If Demands Not Met
Hamas has threatened that not a single hostage will be allowed to leave Gaza alive unless its demands for a prisoner exchange are met.
Israel has said it cannot end the war now – before achieving its aim of crushing Hamas.
But Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says dozens of Hamas militants have surrendered and he described the situation as “the beginning of the end” for the group.
Israel has ordered civilians to flee the center of Khan Younis – with an official saying he doesn’t want civilians caught up in the difficult fighting there.
Key mediator Qatar says the chances of a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are “narrowing”, but has vowed to keep up the pressure on both sides.
Hamas attacked Israel nine weeks ago – killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages, some of whom were released during a short-lived truce.
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The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said Israel has killed about 18,000 people in its retaliatory campaign.
Over 100 women and children being held by Hamas were freed during a weeklong ceasefire late last month, which saw three Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails for every one hostage handed back.
On Sunday night, Netanyahu called on Hamas to ‘surrender now’ and warned that ‘it is the beginning of the end’ for the terror group.
As Israel’s relentless military offensive in Gaza continues to rumble on, the IDF has hinted it is closing in on top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, its number one target who is dubbed ‘Gaza’s Bin Laden’.
Reports suggest Sinwar is in hiding at an address in northwest Khan Younis, a southern city being encircled by IDF troops.
In a televised statement Sunday evening, Netanyahu declared: The war is still ongoing but it is the beginning of the end of Hamas. I say to the Hamas terrorists: It’s over. Don’t die for Sinwar. Surrender now.
