Striking video emerges from terror passageways, causing alarm in Israel.
Following the release of a military video from the Gaza Strip, demands for a deal between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of the remaining hostages have gained traction. Thousands rallied in Tel Aviv, advocating for a resolution to rescue the abducted individuals. The Israeli army had previously published footage of a tunnel in the Gaza Strip, allegedly used to imprison and kill six captives. Negotiations for hostage release in the Gaza Strip, meditated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, have been stalled for months.
Simultaneously, the US is urging Israel's security forces to undergo "significant alterations" in their tactical approach in the West Bank. This request comes after the death of an American citizen during protests. The Israeli military acknowledged responsibility for the death of the pro-Palestinian activist last week, claiming an unintentional shooting incident.
Video Exposes Gruesome Conditions in Hostage Tunnel
In a video released by the military, Israeli spokesperson Daniel Hagari described the grim circumstances in the tunnel from which the six hostage bodies were recovered in early September. The tunnel's entrance, situated in a children's room, leads down ladders to a depth of 20 meters, according to Hagari. He stands in a heavily damaged room with colorful cartoon figures still visible on the walls. The narrow, low tunnel extends approximately 120 meters, ending at an iron door. "This is where the hostages were held and executed," Hagari mentions in the roughly 3.5-minute video.
The military spokesperson showcases confiscated items - ammunition magazines, batteries, Hamas' Holy Quran versions, a chess set, and clothing articles. "These are their stains," Hagari states, pointing to large dark marks on the tunnel floor. "They were here, for weeks and months, in this tunnel with no oxygen, unable to stand up straight." There are still 101 hostages in the custody of Hamas, 51 of whom are reportedly still alive and kept in similar tunnels.
Relatives Shocked by Video
In a statement from the Relatives' Forum, it was stated that the video is shocking. The remaining hostages face unimaginable suffering. "Every passing day poses a risk to their lives, teetering on the brink," it said. During the protests for a deal with Hamas, the father of a deceased hostage expressed, "The Jewish principle of saving a life takes precedence above all else." He joined the cries of the 101 families of the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip, "whom I no longer belong to," as reported by "Haaretz."
Following the death of the activist with dual American-Turkish nationality in the West Bank, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the Israeli military to implement "significant changes" to its approach, including modifications to its weapons engagement rules. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also asked his Israeli counterpart Joav Gallant in a phone call to review the military's rules of engagement in the West Bank.
"We have consistently received reports of security forces turning a blind eye to extremist settlers employing violence against Palestinians. We have seen reports of disproportionate violence by Israeli security forces against Palestinians, and now we have a second US citizen killed by Israeli security forces. This is unacceptable," said Blinken in London.
Trump and Harris Clash Over Middle East Policy
The Israeli military acknowledged regret for the death of the activist and is conducting an investigation into the incident. The soldiers' fire was intended for the main instigator of the violent protests. US President Joe Biden commented, according to reporters, "It appears to have been an accident." The woman was mistakenly targeted.
During the first TV debate between US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a subject of discussion. "If she were President, I believe Israel wouldn't exist in two years," Trump said about his Democratic opponent. "She detests Israel, and in her own peculiar fashion, the Arab population, because everything will crumble."
In the debate, Harris condemned the massacre of around 1,200 people carried out by Hamas and other terrorists in Israel on October 7, which sparked the Gaza war. She reiterated Israel's right to defend itself, but also expressed concern over the loss of numerous innocent Palestinians, including children and mothers, during the Gaza war. "This war must end," said Harris. A ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages held by Hamas are necessary. Harris advocated for a two-state solution that would guarantee safety for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Gaza war is a major issue in the US election campaign, generating harsh criticism of Israel's military actions due to the plight of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and the high number of civilian casualties.
In light of the shocking conditions revealed in the military video, calls for a halt to the 'War with Israel' and negotiations for the release of all hostages have intensified. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has publicly demanded "significant changes" in Israel's tactical approach, emphasizing the need to protect innocent lives in the West Bank.
