Reuters | Edited By NE Watch Desk
As the Israel and Hamas war reaches a
painful 100th day, the situation takes a heart-wrenching turn with Hamas
releasing a video featuring three Israeli hostages – Noa Argamani, Yossi Sharabi
and Itai Svirsky. The captives, seen pleading for an end to the ongoing
offensive, conclude the undated 37-second footage with a haunting declaration: “Tomorrow
we will inform you of their fate”.
This move comes as Hamas announced a
loss of contact with some hostages, speculating that they might have been
casualties of Israeli shelling. The group had previously threatened to execute
hostages in retaliation for Israeli military strikes.
Israeli authorities, for the most part,
have refrained from directly engaging with Hamas’ public messaging on the
hostages, dismissing it as psychological warfare. Hagar Mizrahi, a forensic
official with Israel’s Health Ministry, challenged Hamas’ claims, stating that
autopsies on recovered hostages revealed causes of death inconsistent with
claims of dying in air strikes.
However, Israel remains cognizant of the
risks to hostages in the midst of its offensive and emphasizes taking
precautions. Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari, chief armed forces spokesperson,
underscored the need for precision in military operations, acknowledging the
complexities introduced by the presence of hostages in the field.
The ongoing hostage crisis originated
from a cross-border killing spree on October 7, leading to the capture of
around 240 individuals. While approximately half were released in a November
truce, 132 hostages still remain in Gaza. According to Israeli reports, 25
hostages have died in captivity.
The hostage situation has become a focal
point for Israelis, adding emotional weight to an already historic conflict.
Families of hostages have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consider
truce options or even halt the war. Netanyahu, however, has maintained a
commitment to fighting until Hamas is dismantled, claiming it would pave the
way for the release of the hostages.
In a recent development, Netanyahu
mentioned seeking Beijing’s assistance in freeing Noa Argamani, highlighting
the international dimensions of this deeply distressing situation. Liora
Argamani, Noa’s mother who is Chinese and suffering from a terminal illness,
has passionately appealed for her daughter’s reunion before her demise, adding
a poignant layer to an already complex and sensitive crisis.
