Desk Report:
Hamas is releasing photos of the remaining 47 hostages in its possession. They are calling the photo a ‘farewell photo’. In the released photo, each hostage is identified by the name Ron Arad and a number is added to it.
It is worth noting that on October 16, 1986, Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad took part in an operation in southern Lebanon. He disappeared during that operation.
The article published with the photo blames Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for rejecting the offer to exchange the hostages. It is also alleged that Army Chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir himself objected but ultimately went ahead with the Gaza operation. The article says, ‘Netanyahu’s refusal and Zamir’s surrender led to the military operation in Gaza City. And that is why this farewell photo was released.’
According to a report by the Israeli media outlet Ynet, only 20 of the 47 hostages are believed to be still alive. Two others are in critical condition and the rest are believed to be dead by authorities.
A statement from Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said, “Your prisoners are spread across different neighborhoods in Gaza City. When Netanyahu decided to kill them, we are no longer concerned about their lives. The start of this operation means that you will not get any prisoners back. Neither alive nor dead. They will also face the same fate as Ron Arad.”
Hamas released 30 hostages between January and March, including 20 Israeli civilians, five soldiers and five Thai nationals. The bodies of eight Israelis who were killed were also returned during that time. In May of this year, Hamas released a US-Israeli hostage as a “gestural step” towards the United States. In exchange, 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli prisons were released.
