Hamas says guards 'executed' Israeli captive, injured two others

Hamas said on Monday that its guards executed an Israeli captive and injured two others in two separate incidents in Gaza.

"Two guards assigned to guard Israeli hostages killed an Israeli captive and wounded two others in separate incidents," Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement on the messaging app Telegram.

"Attempts are underway to save their lives," he said.

He added that the Israeli government bears responsibility for what he described as the "massacres" being committed in Gaza and the reactions that "affect the lives of Zionist prisoners".

Abu Obaida said that a committee had been formed to find out the full details of the two incidents, with the results to be announced in due course.

It is the first time that Al-Qassam has said its guards killed hostages.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in Arabic on social media platform X that Hamas had "published a written report claiming that in two separate incidents, Hamas activists killed an Israeli captive and wounded two women captives".

"At this stage there is no intelligence document to confirm or refute Hamas's allegations. We continue to investigate the credibility of the statement and will provide information where we have it," he added.

The incident comes amid conflicting reports about expectations regarding the outcomes of talks aiming to end the war in Gaza slated for Thursday. Hamas on Sunday cast doubt on its participation in the anticipated talks.

Israel's war on Gaza has so far killed at least 39,897 people, according to the Palestinian enclave's health ministry.

Hospitals, ambulances, and residential buildings have been attacked and South Africa has accused Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

An Israeli attack on a school in Gaza on Saturday killed more than 90 people.

Reuters and The New Arab Staff contributed to this report.