Hamas has said it has information that Israel intends to carry out a hostage rescue operation similar to one conducted in Gaza’s Nuseirat camp in June and threatened to “neutralise” the captives if any such action took place, according to an internal statement seen by Reuters.

In the statement dated November 22, Hamas told its operatives not to consider what the repercussions of following the instructions might be and said it held Israel responsible for the fate of the hostages.

The statement, which a senior Hamas source told Reuters was circulated to its factions by the intelligence unit of the group’s military wing, did not say when any Israeli operation was expected to take place.

In the Hamas statement, the group told its operatives to “tighten” the living conditions of the captives and said this should be done in accordance with instructions issued after the Nuseirat operation.

In a section titled “recommendations”, Hamas also instructed its operatives to “activate neutralisation orders … as an immediate and swift response to any adventure by the enemy”.