Israel pressed on with its military offensive in Gaza City, where Palestinian medical sources said 31 people were killed on Saturday, as the Hamas militia threatened to never return the remaining Israeli hostages it has in captivity.
The Palestinian Islamist group published a photo montage and pictures of 47 hostages captioned with the name Ron Arad.
Arad was an Israeli soldier who was taken prisoner after crashing a warplane in Lebanon in 1986. His fate has been the source of heavy speculation and public concern ever since, as his remains have never been found.
A dignified funeral is of the utmost importance for many Israelis for religious and social reasons. This is especially true for fallen soldiers, as the Israeli military’s code stipulates that soldiers “will not be left behind,” neither alive nor dead.
Following Israel’s decision to capture Gaza City despite warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe, Hamas has promised that none of the hostages will return to Israel alive.
Around 20 of the 47 hostages were believed to be alive before Israel launched its full operation in Gaza City early on Tuesday, with hostage families warning of the consequences of the decision.
Some hostages have reportedly been moved out of tunnels and distributed across several parts of the city to slow the Israeli advance.
In the photo montage, Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of refusing to agree to a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.
It also condemns Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir for carrying out the order to conquer Gaza City despite his reported opposition.
The montage is captioned in Arabic and Hebrew with a clear warning: “Due to Netanyahu’s refusal and Zamir’s submission, a farewell photo for the start of Operation Gaza.”
Dozens killed in the strip
At least 31 Palestinians were killed in Gaza City on Saturday, medical sources said, as Israel pressed ahead with its military offensive on the territory’s main metropolis despite international criticism.
Across the Gaza Strip, medics said a total of 56 people were killed on Saturday.
Additionally, around 80 people were reported to have been seriously injured.
The Israeli army stated that it had destroyed tunnels, explosive devices, buildings used by Hamas militants and sniper positions in Gaza City and other parts of the coastal area. An unspecified number of opponents were killed.
In total, more than 100 “terror targets” were attacked, according to the army. The claims made by both sides cannot currently be independently verified.
The Israeli news portal ynet reported heavy bombing and a “ring of fire” in several parts of Gaza City, citing Palestinian sources.
According to information released by the Israeli military on Friday, around 480,000 Palestinians have already left the city, previously home to some 1 million people.
They are trying to make their way to al-Mawasi in the south-west of the territory, which Israel has designated as a “humanitarian zone.”
The health authorities in the Gaza Strip put the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the war at more than 65,000. Although no distinction is made between civilians and combatants, most of the victims are believed to be civilians.
Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The Islamist group led the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war after around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 abducted.
Palestinians mourn those who lost their lives as a result of Israeli forces opening fire in the Rafah’s Murac area, at Nasser Medical Complex ahead of their burial procedures in Khan Yunis. Abdallah Alattar/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa