Hamas claims Israel struck Gaza target where female hostage was held - report

The Nukhba terrorist, identified as Muhammad Al-Hisham Zahdi Abu al-Rous, infiltrated Israel and participated in the massacre at the Nova Music Festival.

 Palestinians search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City November 30, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)
Palestinians search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City November 30, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)

Palestinian terrorist group Hamas claimed on Thursday that Israel struck a target in Gaza where one of the female hostages - who is expected to be released in the first phase of the deal - was located, spokesperson Abu Obeida announced on Telegram.

"Every act of aggression and bombing at this stage by the enemy can turn the freedom of a prisoner into a tragedy," the statement continued.

The IDF has carried out several strikes in Gaza over the last 24 hours, announcing on Thursday that it killed a Nukhba terrorist who took part in the October 7 massacre in conjunction with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).

The Nukhba terrorist, identified as Muhammad Al-Hisham Zahdi Abu al-Rous, infiltrated Israel and participated in the massacre at the Nova Music Festival.

 Israeli soldiers seen operating in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, during an Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, December 12, 2023.  (credit: CHAIM GOLDBEG/FLASH90)
Israeli soldiers seen operating in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, during an Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, December 12, 2023. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBEG/FLASH90)

The army also killed other Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists during airstrikes that took place in the Gaza Strip.

In a separate joint operation, the IDF and Shin Bet carried out airstrikes on approximately 50 terror sites across the Gaza Strip.

Among the targets included in the strikes were Hamas and PIJ terrorists, military facilities, weapons storage sites, rocket launch positions, and observation posts, the military said. 

Previous similar claims

This is not the first time Abu Obeida has claimed that a female Israeli hostage was targeted by an IAF strike; in November 2024, he claimed that a female hostage was killed in an area of northern Gaza that the IDF had struck.

In the same message, he claimed, "The danger still threatens the life of another female (prisoner) who was with her," implying that another female Israeli hostage was wounded. Her status remains unclear. 

The IDF later stated that it is "currently reviewing the information" and cannot "confirm or refute its authenticity."