According to a confidential internal document obtained by Reuters, Hamas has issued a stern warning, threatening to "neutralize" hostages if Israel undertakes another rescue operation. This follows a previous Israeli operation in Gaza's Nuseirat camp on June 9th, where four hostages were successfully rescued.

The November 22nd Hamas directive, reportedly circulated among its factions by the intelligence arm of the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, instructs operatives to disregard potential repercussions and places responsibility for the hostages' safety squarely on Israel. While the statement doesn't specify the timing of any anticipated Israeli operation, it underscores the heightened tensions surrounding the hostage situation.

This development comes amidst reports in Israeli media quoting Defense Minister Israel Katz expressing growing pressure on Hamas, with hopes for a potential hostage deal. There has been no official Israeli response to the Hamas statement.

Following the Nuseirat operation, Hamas instructed its members to enforce stricter living conditions on the remaining captives, echoing directives issued after the June rescue. This operation, which liberated four hostages held since October 2023, resulted in a significant number of Palestinian casualties, according to Palestinian authorities.

The Hamas statement includes a "recommendations" section, urging operatives to immediately "activate neutralization orders" in response to any perceived Israeli "adventure." The backdrop to this tense situation is the ongoing conflict that began with the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas fighters on Israeli communities. These attacks claimed the lives of 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has led to a devastating number of Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza, based on Palestinian reports.