Hamas says annexation would be ‘declaration of war,’ warns of ‘unprecedented price’

Palestinian terror group Hamas warns Israel will pay an “unprecedented price” if it annexes West Bank land, saying such a development would be a “declaration of war,” according to reports citing an Arabic-language video by Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida.

“The resistance regards the annexation plan as a declaration of war on our people, and we will force the enemy to regret that decision,” he says.

Abu Obeida makes the threat in a video marking 14 years since the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit on the Gaza border. Shalit was freed in 2011 in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian terror convicts.

Against the backdrop of reports about a potential prisoner exchange deal that would return two civilians and the bodies of two IDF soldiers current held by Hamas, Abu Obeida says the group won’t settle for less than what Israel paid for Shalit.

תקציר מדברי דובר הזרוע הצבאית של חמאס, אבו עוביידה: אנחנו מתחייבים בפני משפחות הגיבורים שלנו כי עסקת חילופי אסירים חדשה לא נעלמה מסדר העדיפויות שלנו 🇮🇱#إسرائيل #حماس #فلسطين @nadplo @netanyahu @gantzbe @Palestine_UN @HamasPal@IsraelHayomHeb pic.twitter.com/eg3PBIqg4S

— Dean Shmuel Elmas (@ElmasDean) June 25, 2020