Hamas holds Israeli hostages, warns of danger to their lives

Hamas' armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has claimed responsibility for the capture of a number of Israeli soldiers, warning that their lives are in danger.

The group announced that half of the Israeli soldiers it holds are located in regions that Israel had recently requested to evacuate, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

In a statement released in both Arabic and Hebrew, al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaida stated, “Half of the captured enemy soldiers are in regions whose evacuation was recently requested by Israel. We have decided not to remove the captives from these regions and to hold them under extremely strict security measures that put their lives in great danger.”

Abu Ubaida further emphasized that Israel must take immediate action if it truly cares about the safety of the prisoners. “If they really cared about them, they would stick to the agreement signed in January and most of them would return home today,” he said, pointing out that the responsibility for the hostages' well-being rests with the Israeli government.

The statement also implied that the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is fully accountable for the lives of the prisoners. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades' threats have escalated the already tense situation, leaving Israel under mounting pressure to negotiate for the captives' release.

This development follows ongoing hostilities between Hamas and Israel, with the situation in the region continuing to deteriorate amidst calls for diplomacy and action from international parties.

By Vafa Guliyeva