Through its armed wing, Hamas announced that a hostage held since October 7, 2023 had died in Gaza.
No information has been released regarding his identity or supposed death.
At this time, the Israeli military has not provided any confirmation.
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Israel and Hamas at war
In a press release, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas reported this Saturday the death of a hostage kidnapped during the October 7 attacks. A death which would have occurred in a combat zone in the north of the Gaza Strip, but which has not yet been the subject of any confirmation by the Israeli army.
The Israeli army seeks to confirm this information
Abou Obeida, spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, explained that the resumption of contacts with hostage guards – broken off for several weeks – had made it possible to establish that this woman had been killed in a zone of operations of the Israeli army in the north of the Palestinian territory. However, no details have been provided as to the date and place, the identity of the victim or the circumstances of his supposed death.
The Israeli army, for its part, says it is examining these claims. However, she confides at this stage that she is neither able to confirm nor deny them. Referring to a video published by Hamas purporting to show the hostage dead, the army said it was “in contact with his family and keep them informed of all available information.”
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On the Hamas side, Abou Obeida clarified that the life of another hostage held with the supposed victim was also in danger. He took the opportunity to shift the blame to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his government and his army.
During the unprecedented attack by Hamas commandos on October 7, 2023, 251 people were kidnapped on Israeli soil. A total of 97 hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of whom were declared dead by the army. A truce in November 2023, the only one since the start of the war, allowed the release of more than 100 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Regardless of the unconfirmed announcement from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, there remain 10 women presumed alive as hostages, including five soldiers, according to an AFP count. Note that in the Israeli ranks, Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that a reward of five million dollars would be offered to any person who brings back a hostage held in Gaza.
