- Protests over Hostage Exchange Agreement - Stunning Footage from Gaza Emerges
Following the leak of a military video from Gaza, calls for a peace deal to rescue the remaining captives have increased. Hundreds once more took to the streets in Tel Aviv, advocating for a deal between Israel and Hamas to bring the prisoners back home. The Israeli army had previously shared footage of a Gaza tunnel housing six Israeli hostages, who were eventually killed. The talks for releasing these hostages in Gaza, facilitated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, have been stagnant for months now.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has asked Israel's security forces to undergo "significant shifts" in their tactics in the West Bank. This comes in response to the death of an American citizen during protests. The Israeli army acknowledged responsibility for the death of the pro-Palestinian activist in the West Bank, stating it was an accidental shooting.
New video reveals hostage tunnel's grim conditions
The military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, described the distressing conditions within the tunnel from which the hostages' bodies were recovered in early September, in a video released by the army. The entrance to the tunnel, located 20 meters beneath, was accessible via a children's room and ladders, Hagari explained. He stood in a destroyed room adorned with colorful cartoon characters, while speaking to the camera. The narrow, low tunnel extended approximately 120 meters to an iron door. "This is where the hostages were imprisoned and executed," Hagari mentioned in the three-and-a-half-minute video.
The military spokesperson displayed confiscated items - ammunition magazines, batteries, Hamas Quran editions, a chess set, and clothing items. "This is their blood," Hagari stated in the video, pointing towards large stains on the tunnel floor. "They were trapped here, for weeks and months, in this tunnel without fresh air, where one couldn't even stand upright." A hundred and one hostages continue to be held by Hamas, some of whom are still alive, confined in similar tunnels.
Relatives: Video is harrowing
In a statement by the Forum of Families, it was stated that the video depicted an unimaginable ordeal. The surviving hostages face unbearable suffering. "With each passing day, their lives are at risk," the statement read.
At the protests demanding a deal with Hamas, the father of a deceased hostage said, "The Jewish belief of saving a life is the utmost priority." He joined the pleas of the 101 families of the hostages still in Gaza, "whose hope I no longer share," as reported by "Haaretz".
U.S. calls for changes in Israel's West Bank tactics
Following the death of an American-Turkish citizen during protests in the West Bank, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the Israeli military to make "significant alterations" to its methods, including weapons usage protocols. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also contacted his Israeli counterpart Joav Gallant to review the military's engagement rules in the West Bank.
Blinken expressed disappointment over reports of Israeli security forces disregarding extremist settlers using violence against Palestinians and the excessive use of force by Israeli security forces against Palestinians. After the second American casualty at the hands of Israeli security forces, Blinken called the occurrences "unacceptable."
The Israeli military acknowledged their regret for the activist's death and was conducting an investigation into the incident. The soldiers had aimed at the main instigator of the violent protests. U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly said, according to journalists: "It seems to have been a mistake."
Clash over Middle East between Trump and Harris
The Middle East conflict was likewise discussed during the first TV debate between the two U.S. presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. "If she were President, I believe Israel wouldn't exist in two years," Trump commented about his Democratic opponent. "She despises Israel and, by extension, the Arab population, because the situation will just escalate," he stated.
During the debate, Harris criticized the massacre carried out by Hamas and other terrorists that resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 individuals in Israel on October 7, which sparked the Gaza war. She reiterated Israel's right to self-defense but also pointed out that numerous innocent Palestinians, including children and women, had lost their lives during the Gaza war. "The war must cease," Harris said. She advocated for a peace agreement involving a ceasefire and hostage release from Hamas, advocating for a two-state solution to ensure security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Gaza war is a contentious issue in the U.S. election campaign. The U.S. has faced criticism for Israel's military action due to the dire conditions of the civilian population in Gaza and the high civilian death toll.
The military spokesperson's graphic video revealed the harsh living conditions of the hostages, including the absence of fresh air and the inability to stand upright, leading to their death by execution. The bereaved father, part of the hostage's families, expressed his concern, stating, "The Jewish belief of saving a life is the utmost priority," yet feels his hope for his son's release waning.
The tense Middle East conflict between the U.S. presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, saw Trump make controversial remarks regarding Harris' stance on Israel, implying that if she were president, Israel might not exist in two years. Meanwhile, Harris expressed her advocacy for a peace agreement involving a ceasefire and hostage release from Hamas, ensuring security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
