Israel warning to Hamas as terror group threatens to kill hostages

HAMAS today threatened the lives of the 137 hostages still being held in Gaza as Israel's premier Benjamin Netanyahu warned the terror group that it was facing the "beginning of the end".

- Martin Bentham

In a televised statement, a Hamas spokesman said Israel would not see "their prisoners alive" unless it agreed to meet "the demands of the resistance", including the release of more Palestinian prisoners.

The threat came as fierce fighting continued in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, where Israel believes Hamas leaders were hiding, with Israeli tanks reaching the main north-south road. There were also air strikes in the west of the city amid continuing warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe with hospital staff said to be exhausted and overwhelmed and fatalities mounting.