The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the death of 31 hostages out of 136 people remaining in captivity of Hamas militants. About it reported at the evening briefing on February 6, IDF Speaker Daniel Hagari, commenting on the publication of The New York Times.
The day before the newspaper wrote citing Israeli intelligence about the death of 32 hostages. According to the NYT, 30 of them have died since the new war between Hamas and Israel began on October 7, and two died in 2014, during the previous conflict, and their bodies have been held in the Gaza Strip since then.
Hagari clarified that so far the IDF has confirmed the deaths of 29 hostages captured on October 7, and two soldiers kidnapped and killed in 2014 – Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin. The families of 31 hostages have already been notified of the death of their loved ones, he added.
According to the NYT, which cites two officials, some of the dead hostages were killed in Israel on October 7, and Hamas militants took their bodies with them to the Gaza Strip. Others were wounded during terrorist attacks and died from their injuries in captivity.
In addition, as four Israeli officials told The New York Times, according to as yet unconfirmed Israeli intelligence information, at least 20 more hostages could have been killed in Hamas captivity. Thus, about 80 living hostages remain in captivity of the militants.
According to Egyptian officials who quotes The Wall Street Journal, Hamas said it did not know the exact number of hostages killed. In addition, representatives of the terrorist movement claimed that some of the hostages died as a result of Israeli airstrikes. Israel denies this.
During the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, militants took more than 240 people hostage. At the end of November 2023, Israel and Hamas entered into a temporary ceasefire, under which the militants released 105 Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons – three people per hostage. On December 1, fighting resumed in the Gaza Strip.
In mid-December, the IDF mistakenly shot and killed three Israeli hostages during a battle in the northern Gaza Strip, even though they approached the soldiers shirtless and carrying a white cloth as a flag. The Israel Defense Forces promised to conduct an investigation.
Since the end of January 2024, Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar, have been discussing a new ceasefire agreement. By data Reuters, The plan proposed by Hamas calls for three phases of truces lasting 45 days each, during which the militants would exchange remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners, as well as a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. Israel is considering this proposal.
Relatives of the remaining hostages regularly hold demonstrations and rallies in Tel Aviv and other cities, demanding that the Israeli government immediately return their loved ones.
#Israel #Defense #Forces #confirmed #death #hostages #held #Hamas #militants #Meduza
2024-02-07 10:17:00
