6-2-2024 (GAZA) An internal assessment conducted by the Israeli military reveals that more than one-fifth of the remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip are deceased.
Israeli intelligence officers have determined that at least 32 out of the remaining 136 hostages, taken by Hamas and its allies during the Oct 7 raid, have perished since the conflict began. This confidential assessment, reviewed by The New York Times, indicates that families of the deceased hostages have been notified, as confirmed by four military officials speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
While it remains unspecified whether all fatalities were Israeli citizens, eight Thai hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas, following the release of 24 earlier captives.
In addition to the confirmed deaths, officers are evaluating unverified intelligence suggesting that a further 20 hostages may have also lost their lives.
The disclosed figure of 32 exceeds any previously acknowledged number of deceased hostages by Israeli authorities. The Israeli military, in response to queries, stated that the majority of the deceased were killed during the Oct 7 raid.
This revelation is likely to intensify debates within Israel regarding the government’s strategy concerning the hostages in Gaza.
Following the Oct 7 raid led by Hamas, which resulted in the capture of over 240 hostages, Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and a subsequent ground invasion.
Nearly half of the hostages have been released, primarily during a temporary truce in November, exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel.
Since the truce, the Israeli government has asserted that its military actions in Gaza aim to facilitate further hostage releases. Officials argue that each military achievement increases pressure on Hamas to negotiate another exchange and enhances the military’s capability to rescue captives forcibly.
However, numerous survivors and hostage families contend that the military campaign jeopardises their loved ones’ safety. They urge the government to prioritise negotiating a new hostage agreement over continuing the invasion to prevent further casualties.
To date, only one hostage has been freed through an Israeli military rescue operation, while at least three others were unintentionally killed by Israeli soldiers.
In response to queries, the Israeli military stated its commitment to “deploying all available resources to locate and retrieve as much information as possible regarding the hostages currently held by Hamas.”
