Israel Gaza: Seven hostages killed, Hamas says

0
1χλμ.

Seven hostages being held in the Gaza Strip have died, Hamas said on Friday.

The group blamed the deaths on Israeli bombardment and said a "number" of its fighters were also killed. It said the number of hostages killed might now exceed 70.

This has not been able to independently verified.

An image showing a demonstrator holding a poster with photos of the hostages during a rally calling for their release

A demonstrator in Israel holds a poster with photos of the hostages during a rally calling for their release.

It was not immediately clear if these deaths were among the 31 hostages Israel believes have already died.

There has been no comment yet from Israel, and Hamas did not provide substantiating evidence.

Hamas took 253 hostages when gunmen launched an attack on southern Israel on 7 October, and killed about 1,200 people.

Israel responded by launching a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result, the Hamas-run health ministry says, and the UN is warning of a looming famine in the north of the country.

In November, Hamas released 105 hostages as part of a temporary ceasefire deal with Israel, in exchange for Israel freeing 240 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says more than 100 hostages are still being held inside Gaza.

It is not known when the reported deaths of the hostages took place.

In a statement released on the Telegram account of the Qassam Brigades - Hamas' armed wing - spokesman Abu Obeida appeared to suggest that the group was still interested in a deal with Israel to release the hostages in return for prisoners held by Israel.

"We affirm that the price we will take in exchange for five or 10 living prisoners is the same price we would have taken in exchange for all the prisoners if the enemy's bombing operations had not killed them," the spokesman said.

The release of hostages is one of the central points in ceasefire talks in Qatar which have been going on for months.

The discussions are trying to secure a short-term ceasefire, during which hostages would gradually be released. Female civilians and soldiers would be freed first.

In return, Palestinian prisoners, some of them convicted of serious terrorist offences, would be released from Israeli jails.

Israeli soldiers might move away from some of Gaza's most populated areas, and some of the 1.8 million Palestinians displaced by the fighting since October might be able to return to homes in the north.

However, there are fears that the announcement of the hostages' deaths, coupled with the deaths of at least 112 people during a Gaza aid delivery on Thursday, could hamper these talks.

Hamas accused Israel of firing at civilians, but Israel said most died in a crush after it fired warning shots.

After Thursday's deaths, Hamas warned that talks in Qatar to try and secure a new ceasefire alongside the release of Israeli hostages it is holding could now be jeopardised.

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden had said he hoped a temporary ceasefire could be agreed by early next week but this is looking increasingly unlikely.

On Friday, Mr Biden announced that "in the coming days" the US would take part in air drops of food into Gaza.

"Innocent people got caught in a terrible war, unable to feed their families. And you saw the response when they tried to get aid," he said.

"We need to do more and the United States will do more."

The US announcement comes one day after Jordanian air force pilots dropped 33 tonnes of medical supplies and food into Gaza.

According to the Washington Post, Jordanian planes have also dropped aid provided by the US and the UK, while planes from France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have participated in similar operations.

Air drops have been criticised by aid groups as costly and insufficient.

"Oxfam does not support US air drops to Gaza, which would mostly serve to relieve the guilty consciences of senior US officials whose policies are contributing to the ongoing atrocities and risk of famine in Gaza," the charity group said.

"While Palestinians in Gaza have been pushed to the absolute brink, dropping a paltry, symbolic amount of aid into Gaza with no plan for its safe distribution would not help and be deeply degrading to Palestinians," Oxfam said.

It added that the US should instead work to "cut the flow of weapons to Israel".

On Friday, Nicaragua filed a case at the International Court of Justice, calling on it to stop Germany from giving military aid to Israel. Together with the US, Berlin is one of the largest arms exporters to Israel.

Former hostage of Hamas pleads for husband's release

Aviva Siegel was abducted by Hamas militants and held hostage in Gaza (Fabrice COFFRINI)

Aviva Siegel was abducted by Hamas militants and held hostage in Gaza 

Aviva Siegel survived 51 days as a Hamas hostage in Gaza, held in captivity alongside her husband Keith. Now freed, she clings to the hope of them seeing each other again.

The Israeli kindergarten teacher, 62, said she will not rest until he is returned safe and well.

"We don't know if he's alive. We don't know if he's dead. It's hard," she told AFP during a visit to Geneva, where she met Red Cross leaders and UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Thursday.

South African-born Aviva and Keith Siegel, a 64-year-old US national who works in medicine, lived on the Kfar Aza kibbutz, near the Gaza border. The couple have three daughters, a son and five grandchildren.

On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, mostly civilians, Israeli figures show.

The Siegels were among around 250 hostages taken by militants, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel.

"I'll never forget that moment," she said, recounting her ordeal.

"We were very, very scared.

"They just opened the door. We were sitting there in our pyjamas. And they just took us... in a very brutal way: they pushed Keith and they broke his ribs."

- 51 days of 'hell' -

In captivity in Gaza, she described being with other hostages and being moved multiple times from one location to another.

"I went through hell," she said.

"I thought I would die every minute that I was there.

"I was in shock for 51 days. The way that I was treated wasn't human and I was scared all the time. All the time. I did not sleep. I did not eat."

The hostages "tried to keep positive and help each other," she said, despite orders not to speak among themselves.

Siegel recounted one woman hostage saying she had been sexually abused on a bathroom trip.

"We cried together, all of us, and we were very upset. For her, and for what could be," she said.

Siegel said the lowest moment was feeling "not able to help the girls that were abused".

- Last goodbye -

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, and its retaliatory military campaign has killed 30,035 people, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

A seven-day humanitarian pause in late November led to 80 hostages being released in exchange for aid deliveries into Gaza and the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Siegel was released on November 26. A man suddenly told her she was going back to Israel.

"I didn't know where he's taking me because I didn't really believe him," she said.

Siegel pushed past the man to say goodbye to her husband.

"I gave him a hug and I told him to be strong for me and that I'll be strong for him, not knowing what's going to happen: if I'm going to live or he's going to die, or if we'll ever see each other again," she said, her voice breaking.

- Son presumed dead -

Siegel described the swirl of extreme emotions on being freed.

"That day that I left Gaza, I didn't believe that I would live," she said, recounting people "trying to break the windows" of the Red Cross convoy vehicles.

She only felt certain she was being returned after meeting the first Israeli soldier.

The excitement of being able to see her daughters again was mixed with having to confront the presumed death of her son in the October 7 attack -- then "one of the happiest moments that I've ever had" on being told he had survived.

Negotiators are working on a truce, reportedly involving the release of more Israeli hostages.

"I can't decide what's going to happen... but I want Keith home as soon as possible," said Siegel, describing him as a "sweet" man.

"He doesn't belong to Hamas; he belongs to us. And we need him."

- 'I want peace' -

Freedom has not come as a great relief, Siegel said, as her life is consumed with fear for her husband and pleading for the remaining hostages' release.

At the United Nations in Geneva, Siegel wore a black T-shirt with a picture of Keith, taken three weeks before their abduction.

"I want the world to understand that we are human. We need human rights and we are just simple people, like everybody else," she said.

She appealed to those holding her husband.

"I want peace. Most of the world wants peace and it'll be good for them if they'll have peace, because people only live once," she said.

Siegel said she would personally find peace "only when Keith comes home and all the hostages come home".

 

Προωθημένο
Αναζήτηση
Κατηγορίες
Διαβάζω περισσότερα
άλλο
Germany Make-Up Market: Unveiling Beauty Trends and Innovations
Welcome to the captivating realm of the Germany Make-Up Market, where beauty meets innovation. In...
από johnandrew ένας χρόνος πριν 0 2χλμ.
άλλο
195+ Verified Call Girls In Ajmer,Ajmer Escort,Ajmer Call Girls Service
In the vibrant city of Ajmer, a blend of rich history and modern lifestyle comes together, making...
από nlm7976kumar 23 μέρες πριν 0 277
άλλο
Spoken English Classes in Bangalore
Effective communication in both personal and professional environments relies on strong English...
από Nirmala ένας μήνας πριν 0 226
Health
Europe Biomaterials Market: A Legacy of Excellence in Research and Development Drives Continued Growth
  The Biomaterials Market spans across various regions, each with its unique dynamics...
από akshada 5 μήνες πριν 0 667
άλλο
Custom Swimwear Design: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Body Types
Swimwear design has come a long way from the one-size-fits-all approach that dominated the...
από welonswimwear ένας χρόνος πριν 0 2χλμ.