Hamas issues Israel stark hostage warning as fighting in Gaza rages on

11 December 2023 , 19:29

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Wounded Palestinians at a hospital in central Gaza (Image: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)

Hamas yesterday warned Israel no hostages will leave Gaza alive unless hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are freed.

As the bombing of the besieged strip continued, leaders of the group issued their demands. Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said: “The fascist enemy and its arrogant leadership cannot take their prisoners alive without exchanging, negotiating, and agreeing terms of the resistance.” The group and other militants are holding 138 hostages.

Hamas has already released 110 hostages but a week-long truce in which dozens were freed ended last week. One, Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34 – who was snatched with husband David, 34, and their three-year-old twin daughters Yuli and Emma during the October 7 Hamas attack – said yesterday every day in captivity was a “Russian Roulette”.

Israeli soldiers patrol in northern Gaza (AP)

Sharon, who was freed last month with her ­children, said: “You don’t know whether they’ll keep you alive or kill you, just because they want to or just because their backs are against the wall.”

Fighting continued yesterday in the north of Gaza and around the southern city of Khan Younis. Israel said 104 troops have been killed since the war started, while 1,200 people died during the Hamas attacks on October 7.

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Gaza’s health ministry said 18,205 Palestinians have been killed and 49,645 injured.

UN’s Palestinian refugee agency warned there is “almost a total ­breakdown of civil order” around its aid deliveries.

Spokeswoman Juliette Touma said of claims Hamas has been intercepting supplies: “We’ve had several incidents, of our ­warehouses being broken into and our supplies taken.” But she also told how desperate and hungry civilians snatched food and “ate it there and then”.

Andy Lines