The Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, said Monday that it would start executing Israeli hostages if civilian houses were bombed.
“Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,” the Ezzedine al-Qassem Brigades, the armed branch of Hamas, said in a statement to news outlets.
The group, designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization, added that “the enemy doesn’t understand the language of humanity and ethics, so we’ll address them in the language that they understand.”
Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida told Reuters that it has kept its Israeli captives safe. But in return for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning, it will begin executing an Israeli civilian captive and broadcast it, he said.
His comment, however, appears to contradict video footage of the bodies of hundreds of Israeli civilians sprawled across streets of towns. Footage also showed people at an outdoor dance party being gunned down, with reports indicating that upwards of 200 died in the incident.
When asked by Sky News about the number of captives being held by Hamas, Mr. Naim could not say. However, he claimed they would be treated in a “humane way, a proper way.”
Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there.
In Gaza, Israel pressed on with its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever, which have killed more than 500 people since Saturday. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a tightened blockade, which would prevent even food and fuel from reaching the strip, home to 2.3 million people.
In a further signal of Israel’s rapid shift to a war footing, a cabinet member from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party said it could set up a national unity government joined by opposition leaders within hours.
Mr. Netanyahu told mayors of southern towns hit by Saturday’s surprise assault that Israel’s response would “change the Middle East.”
Israel concedes it was caught off guard by an attack timed to coincide with the Jewish Sabbath and a religious holiday. Hamas fighters stormed into Israeli towns, killing over 700 Israelis and abducting dozens. Israel has killed more than 400 Palestinians in its retaliation on Gaza since then.
“This is our 9/11,” said Major Nir Dinar, spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces, adding: “They got us. They surprised us and they came fast from many spots—both from the air and the ground and the sea.”
Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, told Reuters the attack showed Palestinians had the will to achieve their goals “regardless of Israel’s military power and capabilities.”
On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed an aircraft carrier group would be moved to the eastern Mediterranean Sea region, closer to Israel. He added in a statement that more security aid would be provided to the country in “the coming days.”
The State Department has told outlets that at least nine Americans have been killed in the Hamas assault, while there are also reports of U.S. citizens who are unaccounted for.
“We continue to work to confirm that number and to try to locate those who are missing,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told MSNBC on Monday morning. “We don’t have solid information about either the number or where they might be.”
President Joe Biden, who is not scheduled to issue a public statement about the conflict Monday, said Saturday that he condemns the attacks in Israel. A readout provided by the White House on Sunday indicated that he spoke with Mr. Netanyahu about additional support, although no details were provided.
“Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation,” his statement said. “My Administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering.”
