Hamas said it will execute Israeli civilian hostages in retaliation for airstrikes by Israeli Defense Forces, multiple news outlets reported Monday.

MSNBC foreign Correspondent Raf Sanchez told Andrea Mitchell that the threat was made via audio statement from a Hamas spokesperson.

Sanchez said:

We have a new audio statement for a spokesman from the spokesman for the so-called military wing of Hamas. And in this statement, Abu Obaida is his name — you can hear the booms above me, Andrea —  He says, “Hamas will begin executing an Israeli civilian captive in return for any new Israeli bombing of civilian houses inside Gaza without pre-warning.”

Now, Andrea, this is the first time that Hamas has explicitly threatened to execute hostages inside of Gaza. It has obviously been implied, it is what the world expected, given the absolute carnage they wreaked inside of Israel, but this is the first explicit threat from Hamas that they will begin killing the Israeli civilians they have in their captivity if Israel bombs any civilian housing inside Gaza without pre-warning. Now, that is a chilling message for the families all across Israel tonight who are desperately seeking news of their loved ones being held inside Gaza.

CNN chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt confirmed the claim from Hamas and noted the group said it would be broadcasting the executions.

Hamas says it will start executing civilian hostages and broadcast it “with audio and video” if Israel targets people in Gaza without warning. “We will respond to any targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without warning, with the execution of our civilian hostages”

— Alex Marquardt (@MarquardtA) October 9, 2023

Al Jazeera broadcast a statement they reported was from a Hamas spokesperson who also said the executions will be broadcast on camera.

“To put an end to this, from this moment on, we announce that any targeting of any innocent civilians without warning will be met, regretfully to say, by executing one of the hostages in our custody, and we will be forced to broadcast this execution.”

Israel declared war on Hamas after the group launched a surprise attack on Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis and taking others hostage. Since the fighting began, more than 1,200 people are feared dead on both sides, according to the Associated Press.

Watch the clips above via MSNBC and Al Jazeera.

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