'No hostage will leave alive unless...': Hamas issues warning to Israel

Hamas issued a warning on Sunday stating that no hostages in the territory would be allowed to leave alive unless the group’s demands were met.

“Neither the fascist enemy and its arrogant leadership… nor its supporters… can take their prisoners alive without an exchange and negotiation and meeting the demands of the resistance,” Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, said in a televised broadcast, referring to the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, reported AFP.

Following a one-week truce that broke down on December 1, 105 hostages were released by the group, with 80 Israelis exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

As of Saturday, Israel reported that 137 captives remained in the Palestinian territory.

On Sunday, Qatar, acting as a mediator, disclosed that ongoing efforts were being made to secure a new truce and facilitate the release of more hostages. However, it warned that the continuous Israeli bombardment was diminishing the chances of a successful resolution.

Obeida asserted that the group would persist in its fight against Israeli forces, stating, “We have no choice but to confront this brutal occupier in every neighborhood, street, and alley.” He framed the conflict as a holy battle fought on their land against an enemy aiming to weaken their resistance.

The Gaza war erupted following a brutal attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.

In the subsequent Israeli retaliation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, at least 17,700 people, predominantly civilians, have been reported killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.

With inputs from AFP