Skip to main content

Hamas threatens 'hell on earth' in event of Israeli ground invasion

Israel has amassed troops and military equipment in preparation for its ground offensive on Gaza, while Palestinian factions have further warned that the Israeli army would incur more losses should it invade Gaza.

Israeli soldiers prepare a tank near the border between Israel and Lebanon on Oct. 16, 2023, in Shlomi, Israel.
Israeli soldiers prepare a tank near the border between Israel and Lebanon on Oct. 16, 2023, in Shlomi, Israel. As Israel prepares to invade the Gaza Strip in its campaign to vanquish Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched a deadly attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, worries are growing of a wider war with multiple fronts, including at the country's northern border with Lebanon. — Amir Levy/Getty Images

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip —  As the Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip looms, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have promised that the response will be “hell on earth” for the Israelis. 

The threats came in a series of audio recordings released by the group’s armed wings since the start of the escalation on Oct. 7, when a surprise attack by Hamas militants killed over 1,400 people in Israel.

Hazem Qasam, spokesperson of Hamas in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, "The Israeli army continue threatening ground operations and showcasing its large military force at the border. Our movement takes these threats seriously, and our members are fully prepared to show the Israeli army and the world new surprises in terms of capabilities and resilience."

He added, "Israel has attempted to combat Hamas within Gaza before, with a ground incursion in 2008 and multiple attacks from various directions in 2014. However, it suffered substantial losses in those operations."

Related Topics

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in