War in the Middle East: Hamas's armed wing announces the death of a hostage in northern Gaza

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 'Operations of the Israeli army 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 by AFP, the Israeli army said it was examining these assertions.

Abou Obeida clarified that the life of another hostage held with the alleged victim was also in danger and placed the responsibility on 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 prisoners held by Israel.

Regardless of the unconfirmed announcement from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, there remain 10 women presumed alive as hostages, including 5 soldiers, according to an AFP count.

At war with Hamas for more than a year, Israeli forces launched a major ground operation in northern Gaza on October 6 to, according to them, prevent fighters from the Palestinian Islamist movement from reconstituting their forces there.

A collective created on October 8, 2023, the “Hostage Families Forum” said it did not want to make comments at this stage.

“We know nothing other than what Hamas says. Our only reliable source is the Israeli army,” a spokesperson told AFP.

For his part, Mr. Netanyahu announced Tuesday from the shore of the Gaza Strip a reward of five million dollars offered to anyone who brings back a hostage held in Gaza.