IDF says Hamas has attempted to infiltrate Israel from the sea
Hamas terrorists believe they will kill “a lot of Israelis” if the country’s defence forces launch a ground invasion into Gaza, a negotiator in contact with the militants has told Daily Express US.
Around 1,400 Israeli civilians were killed during Hamas attack on October 7. Israel has responded with weeks of bombardment, killing a reported 5,000 people in Gaza.
Troops are also poised for a ground invasion of Gaza to root out the militants and retrieve over 200 hostages from the enclave.
But Gershon Baskin, director of the International Communities Organization, which negotiated the release of a hostage from Hamas in 2011, says the group does not fear an Israeli attack.
His last conversation with the terror group came just three hours before he spoke to Daily Express US.
He said: “They will also say quite openly ‘we are not afraid to die, if the Israelis attack us on the ground we will kill a lot of them, we will have surprises for them, they shouldn’t underestimate our power’.
“‘We are not afraid, let them come. We will kill them.'”
Baskin is doubtful that Hamas will try and carry out another attack similar to the one that came earlier this month.
He added: “I don’t think they will try, I don’t think they can. They will attack when Israeli forces enter Gaza, that they will do. They have no food, water or fuel. But they have a lot of rockets.”
Hamas and Israel are currently negotiating over the release of the over 200 hostages in Gaza.
Khaled Meshaal, a key Hamas spokesperson, has said that hostages will only be freed if Israel stops bombardment of Gaza.
Baskin says that, from his conversations with Hamas, he believes the group wants to negotiate a ceasefire as they did not anticipate just how extensive the Israeli bombing campaign would be.
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The expert said: “The mood has shifted from two weeks ago when they were talking about the liberation of Palestine, to ‘do you think Israel will agree to a ceasefire so we can release the hostages?’
“Hamas wants a ceasefire. I don’t think they care overwhelmingly for their people. But at the end of the day, they are Palestinians and they are responsible for the people there. I don’t think they anticipated the power and extent of the Israeli response.”
On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an address, telling Hamas that they are “doomed”.
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