Hamas has declared that it will not relocate Israeli hostages from areas within the Gaza Strip that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have recently ordered to be evacuated, asserting that Israel will bear responsibility if any captives are killed during military operations.
The IDF has issued evacuation directives for the entire Rafah region, Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighbourhood, and several areas in the northern part of the enclave. These orders follow the resumption of fighting approximately two and a half weeks ago, after the collapse of a potential hostage-swap agreement.
“Half of the living Israeli prisoners are located in areas that the Israeli occupation army has requested to be evacuated in recent days,” claimed Hudhaifa Kahlout — known by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida — spokesperson for the Hamas military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
He continued, “We have decided not to transfer these prisoners from these areas and to keep them under strict security measures, which are extremely dangerous to their lives.”
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Abu Obeida added, “If the enemy is worried about the lives of these captives, they must instantly negotiate their evacuation or release. The Netanyahu government bears full accountability for the lives of the hostages. Had they been concerned about them, they would have obeyed the treaty signed in January. Most of them would probably be in their homes today.”
Hamas had earlier issued a direct warning to Israel, stating that if its forces were spotted approaching locations where hostages were being held, all captives would be executed immediately.
The IDF previously shelled a site near a hostage facility in August 2024, resulting in the deaths of six hostages, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the families of the remaining 59 hostages have criticised the Netanyahu government, accusing it of abandoning efforts to secure their release. The hostages have been held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attacks.
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