Hamas says Israeli hostages spread across Gaza City ‘graveyard’

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Thursday said it has distributed Israeli hostages across several districts of Gaza City.

The organization’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said the Israeli offensive in the city will ensure that none of the hostages return to Israel.

Hamas will have no regard for the lives of the abductees “as long as [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu decides to kill them,” the group added.

It also threatened Israel’s military, saying it has “prepared thousands of ambushes and explosive devices.”

“Gaza will be a graveyard for your soldiers,” the military wing said.

Israel launched a highly controversial ground offensive in Gaza City early on Tuesday.

According to the government, the aim is to destroy the Islamist Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages.

However, relatives of the hostages accuse Netanyahu of sacrificing the hostages with the ground offensive in Gaza City.

They fear for the lives of the abductees – and that Hamas could misuse them as human shields.

Israeli media have reported in recent days that Hamas has taken the hostages out of tunnels and placed them in houses and tents in order to prevent the Israeli army from operating in certain areas.

Some 48 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, and according to Israeli reports, 20 of them are still alive – including German citizens.