1 of 2 The Palestinian group Hamas carried out a surprise attack in the south of Israel in the early hours of this Saturday (7) Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC The Palestinian group Hamas carried out a surprise attack in the south of Israel in the early hours of this Saturday (2011) ( 7) Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC
In addition to the attack that left hundreds dead and injured in Israel this Saturday morning (October 7), the Palestinian militant group Hamas is now holding dozens of Israeli hostages, both military and civilian.
Some of them are believed to be held in small towns near the Gaza Strip. Others were returned to Gaza.
The Israeli army spokesman confirmed that there were hostages in the municipalities of Ofakim and Be’eri involving special forces.
Hamas claims to have captured 53 “prisoners of war” and that they were “housed in safe locations and tunnels.”
The group does not provide any information about where these “safe places” or tunnels are located or whether they are back in Gaza or Israel.
2 of 2 Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz adDin alQassam Brigades, holds a Palestinian flag while destroying an Israeli Defense Forces tank in Gaza Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz adBrigades Din alQassam holds a Palestinian flag while destroying an Israeli Defense Forces tank in Gaza Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC
The deputy head of Hamas’s political office, Saleh alArouri, said that “senior officers” of the Israeli army had been captured.
He told Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera that “what is in our hands will free all prisoners in Israel” an apparent reference to Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
“There are a lot of dead Palestinians and a lot of dead Israelis, as well as prisoners, and the fighting is still raging,” he said.
Arouri said Hamas was ready to face an Israeli ground attack in Gaza, which he called “the best scenario for resolving the conflict with the enemy.”
None of these claims can currently be independently verified by the BBC, and Israeli authorities have not commented on the numerous reports of abductions.
Israeli authorities deny reports that an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) major general was among those abducted.
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In the past, Palestinian groups have used hostages as bargaining chips to secure the release of militants detained by Israel.
Israel achieved the release of its soldier Gilad Shalit by releasing more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners in 2011. About 200 of them were serving life sentences for preparing or carrying out attacks inside Israel.
According to the latest report by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, 4,499 Palestinians were in prison as of June for what Israel calls “security” goals.
Of these, 183 were from the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of them are being imprisoned for their illegal stay in Israel.