The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced on Saturday November 23 the death, in a combat zone in northern Gaza, of a hostage kidnapped during the attacks of October 7, 2023, an assertion not confirmed by the Israeli army.
In a statement, Abou Obeida, spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, indicated that the resumption of contacts, broken off for several weeks, with the guards of the hostages had made it possible to establish that this woman had been killed in an area of Israeli army operations in the north of the Palestinian territory. No details were provided on the date and location, the identity of the victim or the circumstances of his supposed death. Contacted byAFP, the Israeli army said it was examining these claims.
The “Family Forum” has not yet confirmed the death.
Abou Obeida clarified that the life of another hostage held with the supposed victim was also in danger and placed the responsibility on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his government and his army.
A collective created on October 8, 2023, the “Hostage Families Forum” said it did not want to make comments at this stage. “We don't know anything other than what Hamas says. Our only reliable source is the Israeli army,” said a spokesperson.
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.
