27-1-2024 (GAZA) The Palestinian militant group Hamas has released a video showcasing three Israeli women who have been held captive in Gaza since the October 7 attack. The five-minute video, released on Friday, featured two Israeli soldiers, 19-year-old Daniella Gilboa, and Karina Ariev, as well as 30-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, a resident of an Israeli community near the Gaza border.
AFP, relying on official and community sources, has identified the three women. According to their statements in the video, they have been detained for 107 days, indicating that the video was likely filmed on Sunday. During their appearance, the women criticized Israel’s failure to rescue them, with all three mentioning being under fire or bombardment.
The release of the video follows a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ highest court, which called on Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. The court also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of hostages taken during the October 7 assault.
The unprecedented attack carried out by Hamas resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, as per an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Among the casualties, about 250 individuals were taken hostage, and according to Israel, approximately 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of 28 deceased captives.
Since then, the Hamas government’s health ministry reports that at least 26,083 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli bombardments and ground offensives, with around 70 percent being women, young children, and adolescents. These staggering numbers reflect the devastating impact of the conflict on the civilian population of Gaza.
The release of the video featuring the Israeli hostages further intensifies the ongoing tensions between Hamas and Israel. The fate of the captives remains uncertain, adding to the urgency for a resolution to the conflict and the safe return of all those affected by the October 7 assault.
