The Hamas terror group has published disturbing footage showing its members capturing Israelis during an attack on a military base at the border with the Gaza Strip .
Hamas has claimed to have taken a number of hostages from Israel to the Gaza Strip. There has been no confirmation from Israel.
Unverified videos on social media appear to show Palestinians taking civilians captive and moving them by motorbike into Gaza.
Hamas’ military wing, the Qassim Brigades, released a clip showing at least three men in civilian clothes being held captive by militants, claiming the trio are Israeli soldiers.
The video, seen on social media, claims the captives to be “enemies” captured during the offensive.
The AFP news agency says the video is preceded by text, in Arabic, stating “Images of al-Qassim Brigades capturing several enemy soldiers during” the Palestinian operation.
Signs in Hebrew in the background suggest that the video was filmed on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, AFP says.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday condemned the taking of civilian hostages as a violation of international law after attacks launched by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.
“News of civilians taken as hostages in their homes or to Gaza are appalling. This is against international law. Hostages must be released immediately,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
Other clips circulated online have purported to show Israeli civilians taken hostage by the terror group.
Palestinian militants launched a “war” against Israel, which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was “at war” with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” he said in a statement, adding Hamas had launched a “murderous surprise attack” on Israel and its people.
“I have ordered an extensive mobilisation of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price,” he said.
– With AFP
