Israeli army announces death of four hostages in Gaza Strip

The Israeli army announced, Monday June 3, the death of four hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In a press release, she said she had “informed the families of Chaïm Peri, Yoram Metzger, Amiram Cooper and Nadav Popplewell” of their death. They were kidnapped during the unprecedented attack by the Islamist movement on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel, and taken to the neighboring Palestinian enclave. Their bodies are still in the hands of Hamas, she added.

“We believe that the four [otages] were killed while they were together in an area of ​​Khan Younes [dans le sud de Gaza]during our operation there against Hamas”said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, army spokesperson.

Amiram Cooper, 84, Yoram Metzger, 80, and Chaïm Peri, 80, were from the Nir Oz kibbutz, where they were kidnapped. Nadav Popplewell, a British-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Nadav Popplewell (…) My thoughts are with his loved ones at this terrible time for them. With a new agreement on the table, we reiterate our demand that Hamas release the hostages”reacted, on the social network X, the head of British diplomacy, David Cameron.

“They should have returned to their country”

Of the 251 people taken as hostages during the attack, 120 are still detained in Gaza, of whom 41 have died, according to the army. “They should have returned to their country and to their families”affirmed the Hostage Families Forum, as pressure intensifies on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement for the release of hostages.

The plan announced on Saturday by American President Joe Biden provides in the first phase for a six-week ceasefire accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of certain hostages – women and sick people – and Palestinian prisoners.

But Israel judged this proposal ” incomplete “according to government spokesperson David Mencer. “Allegations that we agreed to a ceasefire without our conditions being met are incorrect”, Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. These conditions, Israel constantly repeats, are the ” destruction “ of Hamas and the liberation “of all the hostages”.

Hamas, which has not yet given its final response, said it was considering “positively” the plan while reiterating its demands for a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before any agreement. What Israel refuses. “Hamas is now the only obstacle to a complete ceasefire”said Joe Biden, in “confirming Israel’s willingness to advance on the basis” of the plan he announced.

Washington wants UN support

The G7 countries have said they support “fully” this ceasefire plan and asked Hamas to accept it. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt also supported this proposal.

Furthermore, the United States announced on Monday a draft UN Security Council resolution to support the agreement. “Many leaders and governments, including in the region, have supported this plan and we call on the Security Council to join them in calling for its implementation without delay and without new conditions”declared the American ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in a press release. “Council members must not let this opportunity pass. We must speak with one voice to support this agreement”she added.

The contradictory demands reiterated by the belligerents and the reactions coming from Israel cast growing doubts on this plan as calls around the world multiply to stop the conflict which has so far left 36,479 dead in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to data from the health ministry of the Hamas-led Gaza government.