Hamas Discusses Assassinated Captives
The release of four of the approximately 120 hostages still thought to be held in Gaza has sparked excitement in Israel. Hamas reported that as many as 200 Palestinians, as well as "several" Israeli captives, were killed during the operation to free the hostages. The Israeli military sees this as a form of psychological terror.
The military wing of Hamas affirm that during the effort to rescue four hostages abducted from Israel, some captives were also allegedly slain. This information was relayed by the spokesperson of Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, via Telegram. In response to a query, an Israeli military spokesperson stated that Hamas uses psychological terror in order to accomplish their objectives. "Therefore, their statements should be evaluated with a modicum of trustworthiness."
Israeli special forces are said to have liberated four hostages from two residential buildings in Nusseirat at the heart of the coastal region in the early morning hours, according to the military. It was claimed they were held by Hamas. During this intense confrontation, numerous Palestinians and, as per Israeli claims, an officer in the security forces were slain. Whereas Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described it as a "massacre," the hostage rescue was hailed in Israel as a tremendous accomplishment. Politicians, relatives of the hostages, and the media lauded the "bold" and "nearly flawless" initiative of the security forces.
For the government and the military, the hostage rescue is a significant feat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with the military leadership, are also subject to scrutiny due to the eight-month-long conflict in the Gaza Strip that has caused tens of thousands of casualties. The Hamas is still managing to withstand the conflict in Gaza and fire rockets at Israel. Chiefly, about 120 hostages remain in the clutches of the terrorists, and many are likely deceased. There's growing pressure on Israel to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If it's discovered that the rescue attempt wasn't "almost flawless" and some hostages perished, this would be a significant setback for Netanyahu.
Danger to the Remaining Hostages
In the past, Hamas has similarly boasted of killed hostages after Israeli military actions. In many instances, it's not possible to confirm when and how the captives in question actually perished. In December, Israeli soldiers shot and killed three captives who had managed to flee their captors and sought military assistance. This case led to impassioned debates in Israel about the military's actions in Gaza.
Unlike in previous occurrences when Hamas has claimed the deaths of hostages, Abu Obeida, the spokesperson of the Al-Qassam Brigades, didn't provide any specifics or the exact number of casualties in this instance. In addition, a threat was issued against the remaining hostages. The rescue operation, according to Abu Obeida, would constitute a "serious risk" to their well-being and deepen their predicament and lives.
