A return to war in Gaza would risk lives of captives, says Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida

The spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades - Hamas's military wing - said on Thursday that should Israel return to war in Gaza, it will risk the lives of the remaining living captives. 

In a 12-minute video posted to Telegram, Abu Obeida said the captives' "families and the whole world will be sure to know that the occupation caused [their] deaths".

"What the enemy did not take in war, aggression, and genocide, it will never take" in another round of bombardment, Abu Obeida said, adding that only moving on to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement would release the Israeli captives. 

"The blatant lies of the fascist war criminal [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his government fool no one," he added, calling Israel's "threats... of siege and starvation.... a dirty war crime."

The al-Qassam Brigades is ready to "break what remains of the alleged prestige of the enemy army", should Israel resume its war on Gaza, he warned.