Palestinian Hamas group has accused Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “sacrificing” its hostages after fresh strikes jolted Gaza this morning, raising questions over the future of Israeli citizens still held captive in the war-torn strip of land.
“Netanyahu’s decision to resume war is a decision to sacrifice the occupation’s prisoners and impose a death sentence on them,” said Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq in a statement, accusing the Prime Minister of using the conflict as a political “lifeboat” to distract from internal crises.
At least 59 hostages remain in Hamas captivity after several were freed in exchange for political prisoners.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said the strikes during the fasting month of Ramzan left at least 220 dead, including children, with the attacks casting aspersion on ceasefire talks between the two sides to end the year-long conflict.
