The Israeli Prime Minister reacted this Sunday to the broadcast of a Hamas video claiming that a hostage was dead, an announcement whose authenticity remains to be confirmed. “We are in the process of verifying this information,” declared Benjamin Netanyahu at the opening of the Council of Ministers. He said he had personally spoken with the mother of the hostage concerned, speaking of “an indescribable nightmare”.
The head of government also reiterated the offer made last week, addressing Gazans directly: “Whoever gets a hostage out of Gaza alive will receive five million dollars. You can choose life and ensure your future and that of your family, or you can face destruction and death.”
Government services remain mobilized, exploring, in the words of the Prime Minister, “every opportunity, every crack, every opening” to obtain the release of the hostages.
The video in question was released by Hamas on Saturday evening. “Hamas continues to exercise psychological terror and act with cruelty,” the Israeli army said in a statement, calling to “avoid the dissemination of rumors and publications that affect the families of the hostages.”
The Hostage Families Forum reacted to this publication: “We have already seen the serious consequences of rumors in the past. The pain of the families is unbearable. We urge all contact, direct or indirect, to be avoided with the families.” . The Forum recalled that “414 days have passed since their captivity in the Hamas tunnels of death. 27 hostages have already been murdered during their detention.”
Gil Dickman, cousin of Carmel Gat murdered in captivity, testified on When you know the truth, it will be the worst.”
