The Brigades released a video showing three bodies with censor bars over their faces. “Your captives will not be released unless our prisoners are freed,” it said.

Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida wrote on the Telegram channel: “By committing horrific massacres, the enemy was able to free some of his prisoners. But at the same time, it killed some of them. The operation will pose a great danger [for] the enemy’s prisoners and will have a negative impact on their conditions.”

Abu Obaida described the Israeli raid as a “complex war crime”.

The Saturday massacre killed more than 274 Palestinians and wounded hundreds in Nuseirat refugee camp, including more than 140 women, children, and elderly. (ILKHA)