Hamas’s armed wing has said an Israeli hostage has been killed in northern Gaza.
The militant group said the female hostage died after the area was struck by Israel Defence Forces.
A spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing said: “After re-establishing contact with resistance fighters assigned to protect Israeli prisoners, it was confirmed that one Israeli female prisoner was killed in an area under heavy Israeli bombardment in northern Gaza.”
Al Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida added: “Another female prisoner remains in critical danger.”
He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his government and army leaders “bear full responsibility for the lives of their prisoners”, adding: “They are the ones who insist on causing their suffering and death.”
The IDF said it was studying footage released by Hamas that allegedly shows the incident, and at this stage “cannot confirm or refute it”.
“IDF representatives are in contact with [the hostage’s] family and are keeping them updated with all available information,” the statement said.
“Hamas continues to engage in psychological terror and act with extreme brutality,” it added, as well as asking people to “please refrain from spreading rumours and information that may harm the families of the hostages”.
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It is believed there are still 101 Israeli hostages in Gaza, who Mr Netanyahu has vowed to locate.
Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 120 Palestinians over the past 48 hours, according to Palestinian medics.
The health officials said on Saturday, a hospital on the northern edge of the area was hit, wounding medical staff and damaging equipment.
Hussam Abu Safiya, director at Kamal Adwan hospital, one of three medical facilities in northern Gaza, said it is barely operational.
He claimed ongoing Israeli bombardment appeared to be aimed at forcing hospital staff to evacuate – something they have refused to do since the incursion began.
The IDF said earlier this week it was not aware of a strike near Kamal Adwan and did not respond to claims about other attacks.