Hamas shared a picture of the remaining 47 Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Saturday. The image, described as a farewell picture, labelled each hostage as “Ron Arad,” an Israeli Air Force navigator captured in 1986, and assigned them numbers.
The image blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for rejecting a ceasefire-hostage deal. It also criticized IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir for allowing the Gaza invasion despite reportedly opposing it.
Israeli officials told Ynet that out of 47 hostages, only 20 are believed to be alive. Two are in critical condition, while the rest have reportedly died.
Al-Qassam Brigades stated the hostages remain across Gaza City and threatened that Netanyahu’s military operations endanger their lives. They warned that no prisoners will be returned as long as the offensive continues.
During a ceasefire from January to March 2024, Hamas released 30 hostages, including 20 Israelis and five Thai nationals, and returned the bodies of eight killed captives. Israel, in return, freed 2,000 prisoners.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people overnight in Gaza City, intensifying the conflict. The escalation makes any ceasefire harder and draws international attention as some countries consider recognizing Palestinian statehood at the UN.
