According to a report by The Times of Israel on August 8, 2025, Egypt has warned the United States that Israel’s proposed military takeover of Gaza could trigger the execution of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups.
The warning, cited by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar and attributed to an Egyptian diplomat, claims that the hostage-holding factions “have orders to ‘neutralize’ them if their captors come under siege and are unable to escape alive.”
Egyptian officials reportedly fear that Israel’s plan to seize control of Gaza City could push the situation to that point.
The report says Egypt conveyed its concerns directly to Washington, stressing the urgent need to resume talks between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
Senior Egyptian leaders, including President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, are said to have pressed for renewed negotiations and requested direct communication with US President Donald Trump to discuss the crisis.
While the Israeli government has not publicly addressed Egypt’s reported warning, the plan to capture Gaza City was confirmed this week after being approved by Israel’s security cabinet.
The operation is expected to last several months, with Israeli forces aiming to consolidate control over the central parts of the Strip.
For Egypt, which has long served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, the risk is not only humanitarian but also geopolitical.
Cairo fears that a large-scale military push into Gaza City could collapse any remaining prospects for a negotiated hostage release and plunge the region into deeper instability.
The “neutralization” orders reportedly stem from Hamas’s strategic calculations: if escape routes are cut off and capture by Israeli forces becomes imminent, hostages could be executed to prevent their rescue and to retaliate against Israel.
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