Israeli officials have told the New York Times that Hamas leaders have reportedly instructed their operatives holding hostages to shoot the captives if they believe Israeli forces are approaching.
This report sheds light on the intricate dynamics of hostage situations in Gaza, revealing Hamas' ruthless directives to its operatives. It comes in the aftermath of the IDF's daring daytime rescue mission, which, while successful in liberating four hostages, also exposed the grim reality of the threats faced by those still held captive.
While Israel uses ground-based sensors to map Hamas' extensive tunnel network, the US military has been using surveillance drones over Gaza since the October 7 attack. As reported by The Jewish Chronicle, at least six MQ-9 Reapers controlled by US Special Operations forces have been conducting missions to search for the hostages.
US drones use infrared radar which identify the heat signatures of people entering or leaving tunnel entrances on the surface. They also cover more area and can complete longer missions than Israeli drones.
It has been rumored that a small group of hostages is being held near Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, who is using them as human shields, complicating efforts to target him. Sinwar, who was initially hiding in the tunnels beneath Rafah, is now thought to be under Khan Younis, where a vast subterranean network exists.
After the successful rescue mission, it is likely that Hamas will move additional hostages into the tunnels, making them harder to reach by commando forces.