Netanyahu and Hamas share disregard for Israeli and Palestinian lives

The six killed hostages from top left: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi; from bottom left, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat. Credit: The Hostages Families Forum

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Let’s be clear. Hamas’ alleged execution of six Israeli hostages constitutes a war crime.

In a statement this week, Hamas military spokesman Abu Ubaida appeared to confirm Israel’s assertion that the six captives were executed rather than killed in the fighting in Gaza.

Abu Ubaida. Source: Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades

Mr. Abu Ubaida suggested Hamas killed the hostages in line with new guidelines issued in June by the group’s military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, on how guards should handle hostages if Israeli forces approached their hideouts.

The brigades issued the new orders in response to the killing of 274 Palestinians in June in an Israeli military operation that rescued four Hamas-held hostages in the Nuseirat refugee camp in northern Gaza.