The Israeli military has confirmed that 126 people have been held as hostages by Hamas since the Palestinian militant group staged a deadly attack eight days earlier.
This revelation follows an initial estimation of about 150 Israeli and foreign captives after Hamas launched its attack on October 7, which tragically resulted in the death of at least 1,300 people in Israel.
Since the attack, heavy Israeli bombardments have taken place, resulting in the loss of over 2,300 lives in the Palestinian enclave. Additionally, tens of thousands of Israeli troops have amassed along Gaza’s border in preparation for a potential invasion.
Richard Hecht, the military spokesman, also disclosed that 286 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in military operations initiated in response to the unprecedented attacks by Hamas.
Israeli officials have indicated that the number of known hostages has been revised downward as bodies from the Hamas attack sites in southern Israel have been discovered and identified. During a recent briefing, Hecht confirmed that 126 hostages have been “confirmed.” This figure has increased from the 120 reported on Saturday. Officials, however, have cautioned that the number may continue to change in the coming days.
The military has further reported that its forces have located the bodies of some of the hostages during raids into Gaza but did not specify a number.
On the other hand, Hamas has claimed that 22 hostages were killed in Israeli strikes, though they have not provided concrete evidence to support this claim. They have also issued a warning that they will respond to unannounced Israeli strikes on civilian targets by harming hostages.
As the situation continues to evolve, the world watches with concern, hoping for a peaceful resolution to this crisis.
AFP is the source of this news article.
