Israel has more reason to destroy Hamas after the threat to kill hostages

Hamas’ threat to kill its remaining hostages is positively terrifying — but also a sign the gang of war criminals is on the ropes.

Facing destruction on the battlefield, the terrorists are looking to psychological warfare for salvation.

Hamas demands that Israel free all Palestinian criminals in its custody and allow more humanitarian aid for Gaza — so it can steal it.

“The fascist enemy [can’t] take their prisoners alive without . . . meeting the demands of the resistance,” huffed Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida.

Families of the 100-plus remaining hostages have been pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make whatever deal is needed for their loved ones’ return.

By threatening to kill them, the terrorists aim to divide Israelis and ratchet up pressure on Bibi to give in — and maybe even stand down.

It’s an act of desperation: A senior IDF officer says Israel’s military has seen “signs of Hamas breaking”; many terrorists have surrendered or been captured; the IDF estimates it has “eliminated” 7,000.

And the hostages remain a valuable resource (that’s why the terrorists seized them in the first place, in utter violation of the Geneva Conventions): Israel might accept another pause if Hamas bargained in something resembling good faith for more releases.

But Hamas may also fear what they’ll say (particularly the women) if freed: “They don’t want these women to be able to talk about what happened to them during their time in custody,” the State Department’s Matthew Miller warned last week.

Indeed, some freed hostages have already exposed the abominable conditions Hamas imposed.

Israel’s goals remain the same: Free every hostage it can, and destroy Hamas completely.

And the terrorists’ latest threat mainly shows why their destruction is a must.