Hamas asserts they've taken custody of Israeli military personnel.
Hamas allegedly captured a group of Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, and Israel's military denies this assertion but keeps the possibility of casualties open.
According to Hamas, their fighters attacked an Israeli military unit through a tunnel in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, resulting in fatalities or captive soldiers. Abu Obeida, the Hamas spokesperson for the armed faction, announced this news.
Hamas released a video on social media that contained footage of a wounded individual being dragged on the ground in a tunnel, as well as images of military gear and weapons. However, the authenticity of the content has not been independently verified. The organization has not specified the number of captured Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli army dismissed Hamas' statement, saying that no soldier was kidnapped. Nevertheless, the announcement confuses the situation with the possibility that soldiers may have been killed or wounded.
Israel escalated its military operations in Rafah's southern part of the Gaza Strip by launching airstrikes and artillery fire on Saturday. Foreign journalists and eyewitnesses reported conflicts between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants in different locations of the Palestinian territory, such as Deir al-Balah, the city of Gaza, and Jabalia in the north.
Negotiations about a ceasefire and hostage release have closed down this month. Government sources claim that Israel intends to resume talks next week.
In Tel Aviv, thousands of protesters gathered Saturday night to protest against Netanyahu's administration and demand new elections and actions for rescuing the Hamas hostages. During the protest, demonstrators observed a minute of silence for the deceased hostages. The police dispersed the protesters using horses and water cannons, resulting in several arrests. Presently, 121 hostages are still being held captive in the Gaza Strip, but the Israeli army assumes that at least 37 of them have been killed.
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Hamas' assertion of capturing Israeli soldiers has sparked demonstrations in Israel, with protesters demanding the government to take action and rescue the hostages.
The ongoing Israel war in the Gaza Strip has led to intense demonstrations in various locations within the Gaza Strip, such as Deir al-Balah and Jabalia, with Palestinians expressing their anger and protesting against Israeli military operations.
The Gaza Strip has seen a rise in tensions between Hamas and Israel, leading to international calls for a ceasefire and the release of the captured Israeli soldiers, with negotiations currently suspended but expected to resume soon.
Source: www.ntv.de
