"The decision for Hamas to take at least 100 Israeli hostages, Sir Ivor Roberts states would have 'carefully planned' by Deif 'with the aim of securing the release of thousands of Palestinians'.

The adviser to the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) said: 'He knows full well that Israeli public opinion will put pressure on the government to pay a very heavy price in numbers of prisoners they're prepared to give up for even one Israeli'."