By Henri Astier, BBC News
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A protester lifts a placard during a rally demanding the release of Israelis taken hostage a hundred days earlier by the Palestinian Hamas movement on October 7, outside the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on 15 January 2024.
Photo: AFP / AHMAD GHARABLI
The Tragic Fate of Israeli Hostages: Hamas Releases Video Claiming Deaths in Gaza Air Strikes
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has released a new video allegedly showing the bodies of two Israeli hostages, claiming that they were killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. This development comes just a day after Hamas released a video of the hostages when they were alive, warning that their lives were at risk if Israel continued its bombardment.
In response, Israel has denied the claim, with its defence minister accusing Hamas of subjecting the hostages to “psychological abuse.” The defence minister emphasized the necessity of military pressure to secure the release of more hostages.
The video released on Monday features a woman named Noa Argamani, who is seen speaking under duress. She states that the two men she was held captive with, identified as Itay Svirsky, 38, and another unnamed individual, were killed by “our own IDF strikes,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. According to Argamani, the men were buried under rubble after the strikes, but she was saved by Hamas fighters. The exact date of the video’s recording remains unclear.
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However, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari dismissed Hamas’ claims, calling them a “lie.” He stated that the building where the hostages were held was not a target of Israeli forces.
Israel’s Response and Ongoing Conflict
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant condemned Hamas for resorting to “psychological abuse” of Israeli families and emphasized the importance of continued military pressure. Gallant remarked that Hamas only engages in dialogue when they want something and that granting them a ceasefire without conditions would result in a breakdown of communication.
The hostages, including Noa Argamani and Itay Svirsky, were among 240 individuals abducted by Hamas militants in a series of raids in southern Israel on October 7. These abductions triggered Israel’s intense bombardment of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 24,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Palestinian officials report that 85% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and the humanitarian situation has been described as “intolerable” by the UN’s humanitarian chief.
Israeli forces continue to carry out airstrikes in Gaza, while clashes with militants persist in southern and central areas. However, Defence Minister Gallant has indicated that the intensive phase of operations against Hamas in southern Gaza will soon conclude.
This story was originally published by the BBC.
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