Hamas urges Hezbollah to kidnap Israeli soldiers in wake of Knesset passing death penalty bill

Abu Ubaida, a Hamas spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, addressed his message to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, whom he referred to as "the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon."

A Hamas spokesperson called on Hezbollah terrorists to "intensify their efforts" to kidnap Israeli soldiers in Lebanon on Tuesday, saying it was in order to "liberate" Palestinian and Arab prisoners following the Knesset's passing of the death penalty bill.

Abu Ubaida, a Hamas spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, addressed his message to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, whom he referred to as "the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon."

"Our people's struggle against the Zionists has proven that the shortest path to liberating prisoners is through resistance," Ubaida claimed, urging Hezbollah to "complete the mission" that Hamas started in Gaza. "We are certain that God will not forsake our free prisoners and will grant them relief and a way out of their predicament."

Hamas condemns death penalty for terrorists bill as 'Zionist arrogance'

Ubaida also accused Israel of "Zionist arrogance," in the form of the Knesset's recent passing of the death penalty for terrorists bill and the "crime of closing Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Thedeath penalty bill, which was sponsored by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit Party, would, according to its proponents, act as a deterrent against terror and serve a measure of justice for victims of terrorism.

These "crimes," Ubaida urged, obligate "all components of our nation and the free people of the world to exert every possible effort to punish the occupation for its crimes, or at least to pressure it to cease its transgressions. This is the very least we can do."

Keshet Neev and Sam Halpern contributed to this report.