Top Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh warned on Sunday that the militant faction will kidnap Israelis if a prisoner exchange between the parties was to hit a dead end.
“The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades are holding four prisoners inside Gaza, and if Israel is not convinced to reach a deal, Hamas and the al-Qassam battalions will force them” by kidnapping others, official Hamas media announced.
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Clockwise from top left: Fallen soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, captives Hisham al-Saeed and Avera Mengistu
Hamas is believed to be holding two living Israelis — Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed — captive, in addition to the remains of two Israeli soldiers — Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul.
Haniyeh also reiterated that Hamas wants the swap to include the six prisoners who escaped from the maximum-security Gilboa Prison in September before being recaptured.
Tensions are high between Israel and Gaza following a Saturday strike from the territory, in which two Hamas rockets landed fell off the coast of central Israel.
No casualties were reported, and a Hamas official said that the incident was the result of an electrical malfunction, according to The Washington Post.
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Smoke rising off the coast of Tel Aviv after Hamas rockets crash in the ocean, January 1, 2021
Israel’s armed forces released a subsequent statement disputing the militant group’s excuse, arguing that “Hamas is responsible and bears the consequences for all activity in and emanating from the Gaza Strip.”