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The terror group bragged about the deaths of captives as Israel\u2019s military presence was bolstered on the border ahead of a full-scale assault.<\/p>\n
A statement by Hamas\u2019 armed wing said: \u201cAl-Qassam Brigades estimates the number of Zionist prisoners who were killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Zionist strikes and massacres has reached almost 50.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chilling post came after Israel launched the first wave of ground attacks in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The number of Britons killed either during or since the October 7 attack on Israel stands at 12. The whereabouts of five remain unknown.<\/p>\n
Israeli intelligence suggests at least 224 hostages from 25 countries \u2013 including Britain \u2013 were being held as human shields in underground \u00adtunnels in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile \u00addesperate relatives mount rallies calling for their release.<\/p>\n
In the days after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, the group\u2019s \u00admilitary wing said it would kill an Israeli hostage every time Israel launched an attack on Gaza.<\/p>\n
Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, added that these executions would be broadcast \u201cin audio and video.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, in an escalation of the conflict, Israeli forces \u2013 including tank divisions \u2013 carried out a \u201crelatively large\u201d operation targeting enemy positions in the north.<\/p>\n
It warned the assault would \u201csoon ramp up\u201d. Retired general Benny Gantz, now a member of the state\u2019s emergency war cabinet, warned a \u00adfull-scale ground offensive would be \u201cone stage in a long-term process that includes security, political and social aspects that will take years.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Israel unveils new weapon to blow up Hamas maze of terror tunnels<\/strong><\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe campaign will soon ramp up with greater force.\u201d<\/p>\n But Hamas promised a wider regional escalation should Israeli Defence Forces begin a full assault.<\/p>\n Saleh al-Arouri, the terror cell\u2019s second-in-command, threatened: \u201cHamas and other Islamist groups will turn your \u00adtragedies into joy in the event of a ground invasion.\u201d He said Hamas, the Sunni Islamist political and military organisation governing the Gaza Strip, was preparing for war, telling Hezbollah-controlled al-Manar TV \u201cbattles have not begun yet\u201d.<\/p>\n It all but confirmed Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, is preparing for an imminent Israeli invasion. Al-Arouri said: \u201cOur battle is also Hezbollah\u2019s battle. If the enemy enters by land, it will be an unprecedented defeat for Israel.\u201d Israel vowed to turn Hamas into \u201crubble and dust\u201d after the rampage three weeks ago. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Wednesday\u2019s operation \u2013 when tanks crossed into northern Gaza in the biggest \u00adincursion since it declared war \u2013 lasted a few hours and no casualties were reported.<\/p>\n Pictures showed Israeli tanks pummelling Hamas targets in what was described as a \u201climited \u201craid\u201d.<\/p>\n The IDF said the incursion was carried out \u201cin preparation for the next stages of combat\u201d as defence forces prepared to mount a large-scale invasion that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out.<\/p>\n He said the battle against Hamas whose masked fighters slaughtered 1,400 Israeli civilians was necessary to \u201csave our country\u201d.<\/p>\n In an address to Israelis he said airstrikes were only \u201cthe beginning\u201d. He added: \u201cWe have set over this war two main goals: to do away with Hamas by destroying its \u00admilitary and governmental capabilities, and to do everything within our power to return our hostages.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/5034782.jpg?r=1698353858392\")
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