Family members of Israeli hostages detained in Gaza said they were 'shocked' with the news that the Israeli war cabinet has decided not to send the head of the Mossad to Qatar to negotiate a new agreement with Hamas.
Around 240 people have been taken hostage since the conflict began on October 7th. After negotiations, dozens were released, but many others remain missing. The Israeli government believes there are at least 135 hostages still in the Gaza Strip, 115 of whom are still alive.
A temporary ceasefire from November 24 to December 1 resulted in the release of 105 hostages Israeli women and children and foreign citizens detained by Hamas. Four hostages were freed and one was rescued by troops before the temporary ceasefire and hostage release in late November.
The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed today that troops have recovered the body of 28yearold hostage Elia Toledano, who was kidnapped by members of Hamas of the music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, according to the Times Of Israel. The bodies of five other hostages were also recovered from Tel Aviv.
Toledano was at the festival with her friend Mia Schem, 21, who was released on December 1 under the temporary ceasefire agreement. Schem was shot in the arm during the attack and after her release, her aunt said she underwent surgery in captivity by a Palestinian veterinarian.
With ANSA