Sanchez conveyed the gravity of the situation, saying, “Hamas will begin executing an Israeli civilian captive in return for any new Israeli bombing of civilian houses inside Gaza without pre-warning.” This explicit threat marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, raising alarm bells for families across Israel anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones held captive in Gaza.
Hamas Threatens Innocent Hostages
CNN’s chief national security correspondent, Alex Marquardt, corroborated Hamas’s claims and noted the group’s intent to broadcast these executions, further intensifying the sense of dread and urgency.
Hamas’s statement, as reported by Al Jazeera, asserted, “To put an end to this, from this moment on, we announce that any targeting of any innocent civilians without warning will be met, regretfully to say, by executing one of the hostages in our custody, and we will be forced to broadcast this execution.”
The crisis unfolded when Hamas launched a surprise attack on concertgoers at a Music Festival Saturday, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and the capture of numerous hostages. Since Hama began their attacks, over 1,200 casualties have been reported on both sides, according to the Associated Press.
