Israeli female hostage killed in north Gaza
Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Saturday that an Israeli woman, taken hostage in October 2023, has died. She was killed in a combat zone in northern Gaza. This claim comes after a long silence from her captors.
Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that contact was re-established with the captors after several weeks. They revealed the woman died in an area where the Israeli military has been active. However, he did not provide details about how she died or identify her.
The Israeli military has launched an investigation into this claim. Abu Obeida mentioned that the woman was held with another female hostage. That second hostage is reportedly in danger.
Since Hamas’s attack in October, a total of 251 hostages were taken. Currently, 97 of them remain in Gaza. The Israeli military has confirmed that 34 of the hostages are believed to have died.
Before the announcement by Abu Obeida, reports indicated that ten female hostages, including five soldiers, were still alive in captivity. This ongoing situation is putting immense pressure on the Israeli government. Public demands are growing for negotiations to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, a group representing the families of the hostages, refrained from commenting on Hamas’s claim. They noted that they rely only on information from the Israeli army.
Hamas’s attack on October 7th resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israeli strikes in Gaza have led to the deaths of 44,176 people, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. This figure has been recognized as credible by the United Nations.
About The Author
