The terrorist organization Hamas published a provocative photograph featuring images of the remaining 48 hostages held in the Gaza Strip, calling them all by the name of Ron Arad. Arad is an Israeli Air Force officer who has been missing since 1988. The post came as Israel escalates its ground operations in Gaza City center.
Hamas propaganda message against Netanyahu
The accompanying text of the image published by Hamas states: “Due to the refusal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the retreat of the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, a final image as the military invasion of Gaza City begins.”
The message appears to accuse Netanyahu of refusing to reach a ceasefire agreement and hostage release deal. It also accuses Zamir of implementing the Gaza occupation order despite his supposed opposition to the plan.
The families of the hostages have expressed intense fears that their loved ones will face the same fate as Arad without a negotiated solution for their release.
The hostage situation in Gaza
Terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip continue to hold 48 hostages. Of these, 47 belong to the 251 who were abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. This number includes the bodies of at least 26 confirmed dead according to the IDF.
According to Israeli officials, twenty people are believed to remain alive, while there are serious concerns about the condition of two others. Among the bodies held by Hamas is also an Israeli soldier who fell in Gaza in 2014.
During negotiations, Hamas has released a total of 139 hostages and bodies in various phases:
• 30 hostages (20 Israeli citizens, five soldiers, five Thai nationals) and eight bodies during the January-March 2024 ceasefire
• One dual American-Israeli citizen in May 2024 as a “gesture” to the US
• 105 civilians during the week-long ceasefire in late November 2023
• Four hostages were released before the first ceasefire
In exchange, Israel released approximately 2,000 imprisoned Palestinian terrorists, security detainees, and suspects.
Rescues and recoveries by Israeli forces
Eight hostages were rescued alive through military operations, while the bodies of 51 people were recovered. Serious cases include three hostages who were accidentally killed by the Israeli military as they attempted to escape their captors, as well as the body of a soldier who fell in 2014.
Barrage of bombings in Gaza City
Alongside Hamas propaganda, the Israeli military is conducting intensive bombings in Gaza City, according to Hebrew media reports citing Palestinian sources.
Israeli raids overnight killed at least 14 people in Gaza City, according to health officials. Israel is intensifying its assault on the area and calling on Palestinians to leave the city.
Dr. Rami Mana, managing director of Shifa Hospital where some bodies were transferred, confirmed that among the victims are six members of the same family. The family was killed by a bombing that struck their home early in the morning and were relatives of the hospital director, Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya.
The Palestinian Red Crescent recorded five additional deaths in a separate raid near Shawa Square.
Expansion of military operations
On Friday, the Israeli Army announced the expansion of its operations in Gaza City and bombing of “Hamas infrastructure.” Approximately 250,000 to 500,000 of the city’s roughly one million population have already left the area.
However, some displaced Palestinians affected by the advance say they lack the ability to leave. Most of northern Gaza has already been evacuated of civilians and destroyed.
If Israeli forces fully capture Gaza City, the entire population of 2.1 million residents of the devastated area will be confined to a small pocket in the south. Currently, all checkpoints through which goods and people enter Gaza are located in the southern section, as the Zikim checkpoint that served the north remains closed since last week.
