Israeli captives in Gaza City can't be saved if Netanyahu will kill them: Qassam Brigades

The military wing of Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigades, issued a statement on Thursday warning that it will not attempt to save the lives of Israeli captives in Gaza City "as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them" with his latest military operation in the area.

"We say to the enemy's military and political leadership: Your prisoners are scattered throughout the neighbourhoods of Gaza City, and we will not spare their lives as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them. Initiating and expanding this criminal operation means that you will not obtain a single prisoner, neither living nor dead, and their fate will be the same as that of Ron Arad," the Qassam Brigades said.

Arad is a member of the Israeli air force who has officially been declared missing since October 1986.

"Gaza will not be an easy prey for your mighty army. We do not fear you and are prepared to send the souls of your soldiers to hell," the Brigades warned. "We have prepared for you an army of martyrs and thousands of ambushes and engineering bombs."

"Gaza will be a graveyard for your soldiers". 

The statement added that Israel will only be going into "a harsh war of attrition," and that the Brigades have trained their fighters "to place explosive devices inside the cabins of your vehicles. Your bulldozers will be prime targets".