Seven hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas says – BBC Information

1 March 2024Updated 9 hours agoImage caption, A demonstrator in Israel holds a poster with footage of the hostages throughout a rally calling for his or her releaseSeven hostages being held within the Gaza Strip have died, Hamas stated on Friday.The gang blamed the deaths on Israeli bombardment and stated a “quantity” of its opponents have been additionally killed. It stated the choice of hostages killed may now exceed 70.The BBC has no longer been in a position to independently test this.It used to be no longer in an instant transparent if those deaths have been a number of the 31 hostages Israel believes have already died.There was no remark but from Israel, and Hamas didn’t supply substantiating proof.Hamas took 253 hostages when gunmen introduced an assault on southern Israel on 7 October, and killed about 1,200 folks.Israel answered by way of launching a large-scale air and floor marketing campaign to ruin Hamas. Greater than 30,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza consequently, the Hamas-run well being ministry says, and the UN is caution of a looming famine within the north of the rustic. In November, Hamas launched 105 hostages as a part of a brief ceasefire take care of Israel, in change for Israel releasing 240 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says greater than 100 hostages are nonetheless being held within Gaza.It’s not identified when the reported deaths of the hostages came about.In a commentary launched at the Telegram account of the Qassam Brigades – Hamas’ armed wing – spokesman Abu Obeida looked as if it would counsel that the gang used to be nonetheless considering a take care of Israel to unlock the hostages in go back for prisoners held by way of Israel. “We confirm that the fee we will be able to absorb change for 5 or 10 residing prisoners is identical value we’d have taken in change for all of the prisoners if the enemy’s bombing operations had no longer killed them,” the spokesman stated.The discussions are seeking to protected a momentary ceasefire, throughout which hostages would step by step be launched. Feminine civilians and squaddies can be freed first.In go back, Palestinian prisoners, a few of them convicted of great terrorist offences, can be launched from Israeli jails.Israeli squaddies may transfer clear of a few of Gaza’s maximum populated spaces, and one of the crucial 1.8 million Palestinians displaced by way of the combating since October may be able to go back to properties within the north.Hamas accused Israel of firing at civilians, however Israel stated maximum died in a weigh down after it fired caution photographs.After Thursday’s deaths, Hamas warned that talks in Qatar to take a look at and protected a brand new ceasefire along the discharge of Israeli hostages it’s conserving may just now be jeopardised.Previous this week, US President Joe Biden had stated he was hoping a brief ceasefire may well be agreed by way of early subsequent week however that is having a look increasingly more not likely.”Blameless folks were given stuck in a horrible struggle, not able to feed their households. And also you noticed the reaction once they attempted to get assist,” he stated.”We wish to do extra and america will do extra.”The USA announcement comes sooner or later after Jordanian air pressure pilots dropped 33 tonnes of scientific provides and meals into Gaza.In keeping with the Washington Submit, Jordanian planes have additionally dropped assist supplied by way of the USA and the United Kingdom, whilst planes from France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have participated in equivalent operations.Air drops were criticised by way of assist teams as expensive and inadequate. “Oxfam does no longer beef up US air drops to Gaza, which might most commonly serve to alleviate the in charge consciences of senior US officers whose insurance policies are contributing to the continuing atrocities and possibility of famine in Gaza,” the charity team stated.”Whilst Palestinians in Gaza were driven to absolutely the verge of collapse, shedding a paltry, symbolic quantity of assist into Gaza and not using a plan for its secure distribution would no longer assist and be deeply degrading to Palestinians,” Oxfam stated.It added that the USA must as a substitute paintings to “minimize the float of guns to Israel”.On Friday, Nicaragua filed a case on the World Court docket of Justice, calling on it to prevent Germany from giving army assist to Israel. Along side the USA, Berlin is among the greatest palms exporters to Israel.

Author: OpenAI