Israel says it is investigating photos released by Hamas that allegedly show the body of a woman held hostage in Gaza.
Speaking during his weekly cabinet meeting this Sunday (24), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that at this time Israel could not verify the images.
“We are in contact with the family and a relevant statement has been issued to all families. Our hearts are with them,” Netanyahu said. He emphasized that the Israeli government is committed to bringing back all hostages, including those who are dead.
The prime minister also said he spoke to the mother of the hostage allegedly shown in the photos.
“It is difficult to describe the nightmare she is facing. We welcome her and her family,” he said.
The military wing of Hamas said on Saturday (23) that a female hostage was killed in an area of northern Gaza that was “under Israeli aggression”.
The group did not identify her by name, but shared two photos of the hostage’s body. Israel has not commented on the circumstances of the alleged death.
More than 250 people were taken hostage and around 1,200 killed during Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.
Since then, several hostages have been rescued, and in November 2023, more than 100 were released as part of a short-lived hostage agreement and ceasefire.
Some 101 hostages are still being held in Gaza, 97 of which were taken on October 7, Israeli authorities believe. At least 34 of the hostages are believed to be dead.
In the past, Israel has accused Hamas of releasing images and information about the hostages as a form of “psychological terror” with the aim of increasing pressure on Netanyahu’s government to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Almost weekly protests calling on the government to secure the release of hostages have taken place across Israel, including near Netanyahu’s residences, often involving family members of the hostages.
Last week, pressure on Netanyahu intensified with the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant.
Meanwhile, negotiations for a ceasefire agreement for hostages in Gaza have all but stalled.
Apart from brief activity last month, there have been no real negotiations since six Israeli hostages were executed by Hamas and found in a Gaza tunnel in late August.
Qatar announced this month that it would suspend its role as mediator in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, after concluding that the two sides were no longer negotiating in good faith.
This content was originally published in Hamas releases photos of alleged hostage body; Israel investigates on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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