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."
