Hamas warns Israel that the hostages will face the same dangers as them.

Arab Gulf Newspaper - Special

Arabian Sea_Agence France-Presse Hamas warned on Friday evening that Israeli hostages in Gaza "will be in the same fighting areas" as its fighters, and will face the same dangers with them, amid Israel's preparations to launch a major military operation to control Gaza City, which it considers the last stronghold of Hamas. As Israel prepares to launch a major attack on Gaza City in order to control it, Hamas confirmed on Friday that Israeli hostages will face the same dangers as its fighters in the fighting areas. Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said via his Telegram channel, "We will preserve the enemy's prisoners as much as we can, and they will be with our Mujahideen in the places of fighting and confrontation in the same conditions of risk and living, and we will announce every prisoner who is killed by the aggression with his name, picture, and proof of his death." This comes after the Israeli army declared Gaza City a "dangerous combat zone" on Friday without calling for its evacuation, at a time when Israel is threatening to launch a major military attack on the city, which it considers the last stronghold of Hamas. Of the 251 people who were taken hostage and transferred to Gaza in the attack launched by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, 47 remain in the Strip, about twenty of whom are still alive, according to the Israeli army. The United Nations estimates that the population of the governorate, which includes Gaza City and the surrounding areas, is about one million people. Abu Obaida added that "the enemy's criminal plans to occupy Gaza will be a disaster for its political and military leadership, and the enemy's army will pay the price with the blood of its soldiers and will increase the chances of capturing new soldiers."