The Israeli military has admitted that six hostages were likely killed by their Hamas captors in February, around the same time an Israeli airstrike hit near the underground tunnel where they were being held. The admission comes as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues to fuel debate over whether the country’s efforts are endangering the return of remaining 100 captives.
According to the military, investigators and pathologists could not definitively determine how the group of six hostages died due to the fact that their bodies were recovered six months after they were killed. However, Israeli troops found signs of gunfire on their bodies in the southern city of Khan Younis in August.
The airstrikes likely killed the hostages’ Hamas guards, who most likely succumbed to asphyxiation, said an Israeli military official. But it is impossible to determine whether the hostages were killed by gunfire or the strike. The military believes that the former scenario was more likely.
Six of the remaining 100 captives are mostly older people taken from their homes during a Hamas-led attack in October. They include Itay Svirsky, whose body was recovered in Gaza on Wednesday. Mr. Svirsky’s parents were killed during the assault that triggered the war in Gaza.
The Israeli government has faced criticism for its campaign in Gaza, which has flattened large chunks of cities and killed over 44,000 people. The military says it has “eliminated” 17,000 militants. However, families of remaining hostages fear each additional day in Gaza further threatens their loved ones’ lives.
At least 37 of the remaining hostages are already presumed dead by the Israeli government, while another 37 have been retrieved by Israeli soldiers. The deaths of these hostages highlight the need for a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, which has been stalled due to irreconcilable conditions set by both parties.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-hamas-hostages.html