Hamas kills Israeli hostages
For the first time since October 7th, Hamas admits to killing a hostage. Two female captives were also reportedly severely injured by members of the Al-Kassam Brigades. The terrorist organization blames Israel for what it calls the "massacre".
An Israeli hostage held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip was killed by guards, the spokesman for the armed wing of the terrorist organization announced. This is the first time Hamas has acknowledged the killing of a hostage. Previously, deaths among the captives, if acknowledged at all, were attributed to Israeli military strikes.
In a separate incident, two female hostages were reportedly severely injured, according to the spokesman of the Al-Kassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida. "The enemy government bears full responsibility for these massacres and the resulting reactions that endanger the lives of Zionist prisoners," he wrote in a statement on Telegram.
An investigation committee has been formed to look into the incident, and results will be announced later. Efforts are being made to save the two injured hostages. Hamas has not yet commented on the identity of the dead and injured, or the timeline of the incidents. At the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, Abu Obeida had threatened to execute hostages.
Israel's Army has no information yet
The spokesman for the Israeli army, Daniel Hagari, said on X that there is currently no intelligence information to confirm or deny Hamas' claims. They are investigating Obaida's statement.
Hamas and other terrorist groups abducted 251 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip on October 7th. 111 are still believed to be there, but it's unclear how many are still alive. The Israeli military has officially confirmed 39 deaths. According to a confidential report by Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, "the number of surviving hostages in the humanitarian category is estimated to be between 20 and 35, depending on interpretation." The "humanitarian category" includes women, children, and elderly or sick people, with some interpretation room in the latter two cases.
The Commission, established to investigate the incidents involving Hamas and hostages, is yet to release its findings. Subsequently, The Commission is urging Hamas to provide necessary information to expedite the investigation and ensure the safety of the injured hostages.
