Five hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza have been confirmed killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to an announcement made on Friday. The IDF informed the families of Eliyahu Margalit, Maya Goren, Ronen Engel, and Arye Zalmanovitz about the deaths of their loved ones, said army spokesperson Daniel Hagari. The body of a fifth hostage, Ofir Tsarfati, was also brought back to Israel by troops. Tsarfati was abducted by Hamas militants during a rave party near the Israel-Gaza border on October 7, which coincided with an attack launched by Hamas on southern Israel.
Hagari revealed that Hamas continues to hold 136 hostages, including 17 women and children. This announcement comes as the Israeli military resumed bombing in Gaza after a week-long truce, resulting in the death of 178 Palestinians and 589 injuries, as reported by Al Jazeera. The toll in the region now stands at over 15,000.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
A four-day ceasefire was initially implemented on November 24 to facilitate the exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The truce was later extended for three additional days to allow for the release of more hostages. However, the Israeli offensive resumed after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of failing to release all the women hostages and launching rockets at Israeli citizens.
The recent attacks by Israel have primarily focused on southern Gaza, where leaflets were dropped urging people to evacuate their homes. Israel has also revised its plan to divide Gaza into smaller districts, requesting civilians to identify their numbered district. Palestinians in Gaza are expected to conduct localized evacuations when warned of impending attacks by air strikes, artillery, and ground troops.
The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, criticized Israel’s approach, stating that it has shifted from indiscriminate killing to organized killing. Rajagopal also raised concerns about the feasibility of Palestinians receiving alerts in the absence of regular electricity or internet access in southern Gaza.
The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile, with the ongoing conflict resulting in the loss of innocent lives and a significant number of hostages still held by Hamas. International efforts to de-escalate the situation and protect civilian lives are urgently needed.
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
