Israel bombs south Gaza after Hamas hostage threat

Militants had warned no captives would leave alive unless their demands were met

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories Israel bombed southern Gaza's main city, Khan Younis, on Dec 11 after the militant group Hamas warned that no Israeli hostages would leave the territory alive unless its demands for prisoner releases were met.

Witnesses reported more bombs raining down on Khan Younis, even as deadly fighting was also seen in the central and northern parts of the enclave.

Air strikes also hit Rafah city in the far south, said Ms Umm Mohammed al Jabri, 56, who lost seven children in the bombardment.

"Everything is gone," she said. "I have four children left out of 11. Last night, they bombed the house we were in and destroyed it. They said Rafah would be a safe place. There is no safe place." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Hamas to "surrender now" after his national security adviser claimed the army had already killed some 7,000 Hamas fighters.

"It is the beginning of the end of Hamas. I say to the Hamas terrorists: It is over. Don't die for (Yahya) Sinwar," he said on Dec 10, referring to Hamas' chief in Gaza.

Hamas triggered the conflict with the deadliest-ever attack on Israel on Oct 7 that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures, and saw 240 hostages taken back to Gaza.

Israel said some 137 hostages remained in Gaza after a week-long ceasefire late in November saw dozens of captives exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.