An Israeli government spokesman has said Hamas “will now take the mother of all thumpings” after a truce in the Gaza Strip expired and hostilities resumed.
“Unfortunately, Hamas decided to terminate the pause by failing to release all the kidnapped women,” government spokesman Eylon Levy told a briefing.
“Having chosen to hold onto our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings.”
Levy said the week-long deal could have been extended further, with the Israeli government already approving a list of Palestinian prisoners for release in order “to proceed with an exchange for at least another two days”.
Levy said Hamas was still holding 137 hostages, 10 of them aged 75 or older. The number included “117 males” and 20 females, while 126 were Israelis and 11 foreign nationals: eight Thais, one Nepalese citizen, one Tanzanian and one French-Mexican.
