Hamas said this Saturday that, due to the bombings of Army Israeli on Gaza Striplost contact with the militiamen in charge of a group of hostages that he kidnapped in Israel during their attack on October 7 and warned that three of them could have been killed.
“As a result of the barbaric Zionist bombing, we lost contact with the group responsible for five Zionist prisoners, including Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger and Amiram Cooper. “We believe the prisoners died.”Hamas said in a statement.
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The war between Israel and Hamas erupted after a massive attack by the Islamist group on October 7 that included the launching of more than 3,000 rockets and the simultaneous infiltration of thousands of militiamen who killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped others 250 in Israeli populations close to the Gaza Strip.
Since then, the Israeli Army has carried out a tough offensive by air, land and sea about the Palestinian enclave that has caused 20,258 deaths, 53,688 injuries and 1.9 million displaced people – almost the entire population – in the midst of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The attacks only ceased during a seven-day truce in November mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States which allowed the release of 105 hostages exchange of 240 Palestinians prisoners in Israeli jails.
After the fighting resumed, the international community, concerned about the damage to the Gazans civilians left by the war, puts increasing pressure on Israel to accept a new ceasefire, while The relatives of the hostages are pressing in the same direction.
However, the chances of a new truce are slim as Hamas rejects any agreement that does not include a definitive ceasefire, while Israel is determined to continue its attacks until it reaches what it calls “the destruction of Hamas.”
Of the 250 people who were kidnappedan estimated 129 (118 Israelis and 11 foreigners) remain in Gaza and 21 of them have died, according to Israeli authorities.
On the other hand, 110 hostages They have been released alive (86 Israelis and 24 foreigners), while the Israeli Army has recovered the bodies of another eleven, including three murdered by mistake by Israeli soldiers.
