Hamas threatens to 'neutralise' hostages if Israel launches rescue operation

Hamas said it had information that Israel intended to carry out a hostage rescue operation similar to one conducted in Gaza's Nuseirat camp in June, and threatened to "neutralise" the captives if any such action took place, according to an internal statement seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

In the statement dated November 22, Hamas told its operatives not to consider what the repercussions of following the instructions might be and said it held Israel responsible for the fate of the hostages.

The statement, which a senior Hamas source told Reuters was circulated to its factions by the intelligence unit of the group's military wing Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, did not say when any Israeli operation was expected to take place.

There was no immediate Israeli response to the statement. On Wednesday, Israeli media cited Defence Minister Israel Katz as saying pressure on Hamas was increasing and this time "we will really be able to advance a hostage deal".

Israel's Nuseirat rescue operation on June 9 saw Israeli forces free four hostages, who had been held by Hamas since October 2023, in a raid Palestinian officials said killed more than 200 people, making it one of the bloodiest Israeli assaults of the war.

In the Hamas statement, the group told its operatives to "tighten" the living conditions of the captives and said this should be done in accordance with instructions issued after the Nuseirat operation.

In a section titled "recommendations", Hamas also instructed its operatives to "activate neutralisation orders...as an immediate and swift response to any adventure by the enemy."

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said on Wednesday it had retrieved the body of Itay Svirsky, who was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, and then killed in Hamas captivity, according to a statement from the Israeli military.

A statement from the Hostages' Families Forum, which represents families of those being held by Hamas, said that returning "Itay's body for proper burial in Israel provides crucial closure for his family".

A statement from the military said the family had been notified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Svirsky's body had been retrieved in a special operation and he thanked Israeli security forces.

"Our hearts are torn over the heavy loss of the Svirsky family," Netanyahu said.