According to Hamas’ armed wing, at least 13 Israeli and foreign hostages held in the northern Gaza Strip have been murdered in Israeli air strikes in the last 24 hours.
In a surprise onslaught early Saturday, Hamas militants entered Israeli settlements along the Gaza border and launched missile barrages, killing over 1,200 people.
According to Israel, Hamas has kidnapped more over 150 persons, including civilians and security forces.
“Thirteen prisoners… including foreigners” were killed in five locations targeted by Israeli fighter jets, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.
Israel has carried out air and artillery strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip, a densely populated area of 2.4 million people, leveling structures and killing over 1,500 people.
At least 500 children are among the dead, according to the Hamas media office in Gaza.
This Thursday, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades warned that “any targeting of our people without warning will result in the execution of one of the civilian hostages.”