Destroying Hamas a priority for Israel, after militant group threatens hostages

Israel continued to pound Gaza with deadly airstrikes Tuesday, displacing more than 100,000 people and sending waves of injured Palestinians to overwhelmed hospitals, after Hamas threatened to kill civilian hostages and broadcast the executions if airstrikes target Gaza without warning.
Following the militant group’s threat, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations told CNN on Monday that the country’s priority is “to obliterate Hamas terrorist capabilities.”
“Of course, we want to see all of our boys, girls, grandmothers, everyone who was abducted we want to see them back home, but right now, our focus is looking at our national strategy is to obliterate Hamas terrorist capabilities,” Gilad Erdan said, as violence continued into a fourth day Tuesday.
At least 900 people were killed and thousands injured in Israel in Hamas’ devastating and surprise attack, which began early Saturday with the militant group firing thousands of rockets and sending fighters into Israel. In response, Israel on Sunday formally declared war on Hamas and ordered a “complete siege” of the densely populated coastal strip.