Hamas' armed wing said Friday evening that seven hostages held in the Gaza Strip had died in Israeli “bombings” on Palestinian territory in recent weeks.
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“In recent weeks, we have confirmed the deaths of a number of our fighters and the deaths of seven enemy prisoners in the Gaza Strip as a result of Zionist bombings,” Abu Obeida, the spokesman, said in a statement. Word from the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamist movement Hamas.
Hamas militants claimed three hostages were among the seven dead, a video of which the Islamist movement released on Thursday. They said the names of the four other deceased hostages would be released when they were “confirmed.”
Confirmation of these suspected deaths from an independent source was not possible on Friday.
Al-Qassam Brigades made the announcement shortly after the start of Shabbat, a weekly break in Jewish tradition, and against the backdrop of talks about a new ceasefire in fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar, the United States and Egypt are trying to reach an agreement ahead of the start of Ramadan, expected to begin around March 11 this year, that would include a six-week ceasefire coupled with the release of hostages in exchange for prisoners. Palestinians.
Around 250 people were kidnapped and taken to Gaza during the unprecedented Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, leaving 1,160 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data. Israelis.
Israeli authorities say 130 hostages are still being held there, 31 of whom are believed to have died after 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinians whom Israel had detained during an initial ceasefire in late November.
In retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, which has been in power in Gaza since 2007, and its land and air offensive left more than 30,000 dead in Gaza, the vast majority, according to the Hamas Health Ministry including civilians.
The al-Qassam Brigades recently claimed that “more than 70” hostages may have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza.
The families of the hostages are calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to agree to a new ceasefire to allow releases.