In the last 24 hours, Hamas’s Qassam Brigades have claimed that 13 captives, including foreigners, have been killed in Israeli air raids on Gaza. The statement released by Hamas stated that these casualties occurred in five different locations targeted by Israeli fighter jets.
According to the statement, six prisoners lost their lives in air raids on two separate locations in the northern district of Gaza, while seven more were killed in strikes that hit three locations in the Gaza district.
Basem Naim, the head of Hamas’s political and international relations bureau, expressed determination that Palestinians in Gaza would not abandon their homeland, even as Israel called for over a million civilians to evacuate the northern part of the enclave. Naim stated, “We have two options: to defeat this occupation or to die in our homes,” emphasising their refusal to leave and their commitment to resisting Israeli aggression.
Naim attributed the attack on Saturday to the “suffocating siege” that Gaza has endured for the past 17 years. He highlighted the desperate situation in Gaza, stating, “We were dying in silence. We have tried to get out of this open-air prison, we have tried to raise our voices at the level of the international community… what we are doing is an act of defence, we are defending our existence.” Naim further emphasised the Palestinians’ desire for freedom and dignity, calling for an end to the Israeli occupation, which he regarded as the root cause of instability in the region.
In response to the escalating tensions, Egypt has increased security along its borders with Gaza, deploying thousands of security forces. An unnamed senior Egyptian security official stated that Egypt had taken “unprecedented measures” to prevent breaches of its borders and warned that Israel’s potential ground invasion of Gaza would be a “grave mistake.”
Egypt has proposed the establishment of “safe zones” within Gaza and the delivery of aid through the Rafah crossing point. While receiving support from some Western officials, Israel has yet to respond to this proposal.
In a display of solidarity with Palestinians, thousands of Iraqis gathered on the streets of Baghdad, chanting slogans against the occupation and the United States. The demonstration was organized by populist Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr, who called for a show of support for Gaza and opposition against Israel.
Simultaneously, thousands of Iranians took to the streets of Tehran, waving flags of Iran, Palestine, and Hezbollah. Banners with messages such as “Down with America” and “Down with Israel” were displayed as participants marched in the Iranian capital. Similar rallies were held in other cities across Iran, where flags of the US and Israel were burned.
It is important to note that the claims made by Hamas regarding the casualties have not been independently verified.
