LIVE: Israeli airstrikes pound Gaza as Hamas threatens to kill captives

Hamas has threatened to murder a hostage for every unannounced Israeli strike on Gaza and to publish a “recording of each execution”. The spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades, its armed wing, who uses the nom de guerre Abu Obeida, issued the threat in response to intense air raids on the strip and an Israeli decision to cut it off from water and electricity, food and other aid supplies. “We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one of the hostages we are holding,” he said in an audio message. As rocket exchanges continued but Israel was able to claim that all towns and villages attacked by Hamas were fully under its control Read the best of our journalism: Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: Find us on Facebook: Find us on Twitter: Find us on Instagram: #israel #gaza #middleeast #hamas