Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for Hamas's armed wing, asserted that by safeguarding Israeli hostages, they were adhering to Islamic principles.
Dr. Basem Naim, the head of political and international relations for Hamas, stated that the group had not caused harm to civilians since their militants crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip during a surprise attack on Saturday. Naim couldn't provide an exact count of hostages brought into the Strip but assured they would be treated humanely and properly.
As reported by Sky News, Naim expressed a 100% guarantee of their safety, emphasizing orders had been given to fighters not to harm elderly individuals, women, or children. However, shortly after, another Hamas official announced intentions to execute Israeli civilian captives should Israel bomb civilian residences in Gaza without warning.
Reports have emerged indicating that Qatar is mediating discussions between the parties to facilitate the exchange of civilian hostages, including women and children.
The Saturday morning attack caught Israel off guard, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that it would "change the Middle East."
“I know you have been through terrible and difficult things,” he told authorities from the south of the country. “What Hamas will go through will be difficult and terrible. We have only just begun.”
Earlier on Monday, rescuers said they had recovered at least 260 bodies from the site of a music festival in Israel that was attacked by Hamas during its incursion.
However, Naim had earlier told Sky News: “We have not killed any civilians.”
He added that he did not consider anyone “carrying guns” as a civilian.
Naim said: “We have responded to 75 years of occupation, we have responded to 17 years of a suffocating siege, the silent killing of 2.3 million Palestinians.”
He said people in the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, are “always under attack” and “never safe”.
“We are living in the biggest open-air prison. You have to choose either to die by F-35 or F-16 or to die silently of malnutrition,” he added.
The two days of violence between Israel and Hamas has reportedly left at least 900 Israelis and 500 Palestinians dead so far.
