Hamas appeared to suggest Monday that the six hostages found dead were deliberately executed because they were about to be rescued by Israeli forces — and that others could suffer the same fate, too.
“We say to everyone clearly that after the Nuseirat incident, new instructions were issued to the Mujahideen assigned to guard the prisoners regarding dealing with them if the occupation army approached their place of detention,” Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida said in a Monday statement, according to Axios.
Ubaida, who speaks for Hamas’ military branch known as the Al-Qassam Brigades, seemed to be referring to the June operation by Israel in which five Israeli hostages were rescued from Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp.
Among the rescued was 26-year-old Noa Argamani, whose kidnapping by Hamas was captured in images that came to symbolize the terror of Oct. 7.
The latest group of Israeli hostages found by the Israel Defense Force was not so lucky.
Almog Sarusi, 27, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and US-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, were all found dead by IDF troops Saturday.
They appeared to have been shot at point-blank range numerous times two to three days before they were found, after enduring 11 months of captivity, Israeli officials have said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that they had been shot in the back of the head.
Israeli officials have said they believed that the victims were killed when the IDF got close.
Hamas’ latest statement appears to confirm that the victims were murdered because the IDF was coming too close to rescuing them.
The deaths have sparked massive protests across Israel, with many demonstrators accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to do enough to secure the release of the hostages.
Israel estimates there are about 102 hostages still held by Hamas.
“Netanyahu killed the six prisoners and he is determined to kill the remaining one,” said Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior official with Hamas, in a statement.
“The Israelis should choose between Netanyahu or the deal,” Zuri said, referring to a propose cease-fire plan that the prime minister has balked at partly because it does not ensure the eradication of Hamas.
–With Post Wires
