The Palestinian extremist group "Hamas" announced that it has distributed Israeli hostages to several areas of Gaza City, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The organization's military wing - the "Al-Qassam Brigades" - said that the Israeli offensive in the city would ensure that none of the hostages would return to Israel. "Hamas" would not care about the lives of the kidnapped, "if (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu decides to kill them," the group noted.
It also threatened the Israeli military that it had "prepared thousands of ambushes and explosive devices" and warned: "Gaza will be a graveyard for your soldiers".
Israel launched a highly controversial ground offensive in Gaza City early Tuesday. According to the government, its goal is to destroy "Hamas" and secure the return of hostages still held.
However, relatives of the hostages accuse Netanyahu of sacrificing their loved ones with the ground offensive in Gaza. They fear for the lives of the abductees and that Hamas could use them as human shields.
Israeli media reported in recent days that "Hamas" had taken the hostages out of the tunnels and moved them into houses and tents to prevent the Israeli army from operating in certain areas.
About 48 hostages are still in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli reports, 20 of them are alive, including German citizens.