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Hamas vows Israeli troops will be killed or captured if Israel pushes into Gaza City

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 30 August 2025 8:22 AM

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has vowed that the Israeli military will pay in blood and face the capture of its soldiers, hours before an ambush on the occupying regime's forces killed one soldier and left four others missing.

The spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, Abu Obeida, said in a statement on Friday that Israel's plans to occupy Gaza City would cut the number of Israeli captives held in Gaza by half.

"The plans to occupy Gaza City will cost the enemy's army in the blood of its soldiers and will increase the chances of capturing new soldiers, God willing," Abu Obeida said.

"War criminal [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his Nazi ministers have decided, with determination, to reduce the number of the enemy's living prisoners by half and to make most of the bodies of their fallen prisoners disappear forever," he added.

The spokesperson said the resistance group "will do its best" to protect the Israeli captives but they will be with Hamas fighters in the places of combat and confrontation, enduring the same risks and living conditions.

"We will announce every prisoner killed due to the aggression, along with their name, photo, and proof of their death," he said.

Abu Obeida stated that the Israeli military and its "terrorist" cabinet "will bear full responsibility" for the deaths of the remaining captives.

He emphasized that Hamas fighters remain "in a state of high alert, preparedness, and morale" in anticipation of the Israeli ground offensive.

"They will present exemplary models of heroism and perseverance, and with God's help, they will teach the invaders harsh lessons," Abu Obeida highlighted.

Israel approved a plan to occupy Gaza City earlier this month, marking an escalation in its genocidal war on the besieged territory.

On Friday, the Israeli military said it had started the "initial stages" of its planned takeover of Gaza City, as it declared the largest urban centre in the besieged territory a "combat zone."

However, shortly after Abu Obeida's warning, Israeli media said that renewed fighting between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Israeli army in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City had left at least one Israeli soldier dead.

Reports also indicated that nine other soldiers have been wounded, with fears that four more may have been captured.

Israeli helicopters are reportedly evacuating soldiers under heavy fire.

Experts say the operation is a "significant tactical setback" for the Israeli military and undermines the Israeli regime's messaging about the strength of Hamas.

Since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime launched its campaign of genocide in Gaza, it has killed at least 63,025 Palestinians and wounded 159,490, the majority of whom are women and children.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has warned that Israel's push to seize control of Gaza City could forcibly displace as many as one million Palestinians.