Roving Periscope: Hamas threatens to kill hostages, as Israel ‘controls’ Gaza borders

Virendra Pandit

New Delhi: As Shia Iran-supported Sunni terrorist group Hamas threatened to kill the 160-odd hostages unless Israel stopped its Gaza Strip’s complete siege and vow to convert it into “rubble”, the latest conflagration in the Middle East heightened geopolitical uncertainties as the death toll after the October 7 invasion mounted to over 1,600.

Officially, the death toll in Israel, after Hamas launched its surprise “Al-Aqsa Storm” strategy on Saturday last, mounted at over 900 while the Palestinians counted their dead at 687, the media reported on Tuesday.

Israel, in a bid to stop the Lebanon-based Hezbollah from opening a second war front in the north, deployed tanks and warned the local people to stay home.

As Israel relentlessly bombed the Gaza Strip and threatened to sever all supply lines to chock its 2.3 million Palestinian people, Hamas threatened to kill the hostages it had dragged to their side when they breached the border on Saturday last week.

According to the media reports, quoting the Israeli army, the bodies of nearly 1,500 Hamas terrorists were found in the Israeli region near the Gaza border on Tuesday morning. This is in addition to the 1,600 deaths reported by the two sides, but not confirmed by the Palestinian terror group. The Israeli military also asserted that they have “more or less restored control over the border” with Gaza.

While not confirming that its 1,500 operatives have been killed, Hamas threatened Israel to stop bombing forthwith. “Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,” the armed wing of Hamas warned.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his government is mobilizing 300,000 reserve troops. “Israel is at war. We didn’t want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn’t start this war, we will finish it,” he told the nation.

“Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel’s other enemies for decades to come,” he said, branding Hamas as ISIS.

Meanwhile, Israel’s siege order sparked fears in the United Nations of an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. “While I recognize Israel’s legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The US has confirmed the deaths of 11 Americans in the conflict and expressed fear that several others could be held hostage by Hamas. But the White House said the US has no intention to get militarily involved in the war. The US has also warned Iran and other actors against joining the war.

On Monday, Israel pledged to reduce Hamas sites in Gaza to “rubble.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a “complete siege” on the long-blockaded enclave. There will be “no electricity, no food, no water, no gas — it’s all closed,” he said.

Israel and Palestinian terror groups have fought several wars since Hamas came to take control of Gaza in 2007. The latest violence erupted a day after Hamas said that the “people had to draw a line to end the Israeli occupation” and added that Israel continued to commit crimes across Palestinian land, especially on the holy site of Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. The terror group’s latest invasion has also been christened as the “Al-Aqsa Storm.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu called him and updated him on the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. The people of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” PM Modi posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The message of support to Israel is significant because India has, historically, backed the Palestinian cause. It has moved closer to Israel in recent years. The war has come when India has been repositioning itself to play a bigger role in the Middle East, and it will now have to do some tightrope walking.

While the US, UK, Germany, France, and Italy issued a joint statement expressing their “steadfast support” for Israel and unequivocally condemning Hamas, many countries in the Middle East have blamed Israel for the current situation. The West called Hamas’ actions appalling and warned against any country trying to take advantage of the current crisis in Israel.

“We make it clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages,” the statement said.

“Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage,” it added.

The Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abu Alhaija, blamed Israel and the international community for the war. “What has happened is a reaction to what Israel is doing in the West Bank. The international community is responsible for the war. The UN has passed 800 resolutions on Palestine. Israel has implemented none. If Israel ends its control on the occupied territories in Palestine, the attacks will also end,” Alhaija, who is an appointee of the Palestine Authority government led by President Mahmoud Abbas, said.

Abbas’ government controls the West Bank while the Gaza Strip is under the control of Hamas. The Ambassador said Palestine is against the killing of civilians and made an appeal for India’s intervention to help find a peaceful solution.

“Our president is in touch with several European countries to help negotiate. India is a friend to both. We want India to intervene and help us negotiate,” he said.