Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas continues to hold Israeli captives. Speaking to parliament, Netanyahu said Israel will increase its “repression” on Gaza the longer Hamas refuses to release their hostages. The captives include 59 people still being held in Gaza, with only 25 believed to be alive.
The ceasefire framework agreed upon by Israel and Hamas in January was set to see all surviving captives released during the second stage of the deal. However, Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza after the first phase expired without an agreement on the next stage.
Hamas has vowed to return any captive “in coffins” if Israel attempts to retrieve them by force. The Palestinian group accused Netanyahu of lying when he claims war can bring captives back alive.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with doctors struggling to perform life-or-death surgeries due to a shortage of medical supplies. More than 175,000 tonnes of waste are piling up in Gaza City, creating a health hazard for residents.
The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties, including at least 50,183 people confirmed killed and 113,828 wounded since Israel ended its two-month ceasefire on March 18. Thousands more are missing under the rubble of bombed-out buildings.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/3/26/live-israel-kills-37-in-gaza-6-in-syria-us-continues-bombing-yemen