Spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades Abu Obeida revealed in a televised statement on Monday evening that the Palestinian resistance factions hold between 200 and 250 captives in the Gaza Strip.
There are currently between 200 and 250 captives in Gaza Abu Obeida said noting that there is no definitive count due to security and practical difficulties.
But he affirmed that 200 of them are in the hands of Al-Qassam Brigades while about 50 others are held by other resistance factions and in other places.
In the televised statement he said &ldquoForeign hostages are our guests&rdquo vowing to protect them and to release them whenever conditions on the ground allow.
Abu Obeida further said that the threat of an Israeli ground operation in Gaza &ldquodoesn&rsquot scare us and we are ready for it.&rdquo
He also named an Israeli captive killed in an Israeli bombing in the last few hours.
Finally Abu Obeida warned all countries that allow their citizens to fight in the Israeli army saying that anyone who fights in the Israeli army regardless of his dual nationality will be a target for the Palestinian resistance.
