Israel investigating after Hamas releases photos purportedly showing body of female hostage

[ad_1] Israel says it's investigating after Hamas launched pictures purportedly displaying the physique of a feminine hostage in Gaza.

Talking throughout his weekly cupboard assembly on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned at this level Israel couldn't confirm the pictures.

“We're in touch with the household, and a related discover has been issued to all households. Our hearts are with them,” Netanyahu mentioned. He careworn that Israel’s authorities is dedicated to bringing again all of the hostages, together with those that are lifeless.

The prime minister additionally mentioned he had spoken with the mom of the hostage purportedly proven within the pictures.

“It's arduous to explain the nightmare she is enduring. We embrace her and her household,” he mentioned.

Hamas’ navy wing claimed on Saturday {that a} feminine hostage had been killed in an space of northern Gaza that was “below Israeli aggression.”

It didn't determine her by identify however shared two pictures of the hostage’s physique. Israel has made no touch upon the circumstances surrounding the alleged demise.

Greater than 250 individuals have been taken hostage and about 1,200 killed throughout the Hamas-led assaults on October 7, 2023.

A handful of hostages have since been rescued and in November 2023 greater than 100 have been launched as a part of a short-lived hostage-and-ceasefire deal.

Some 101 hostages are nonetheless being held in Gaza, 97 of whom have been taken on October 7, Israeli authorities imagine. Not less than 34 of the hostages taken on October 7 are considered lifeless.

Israel has prior to now accused Hamas of releasing footage and details about the hostages as a type of “psychological terror” aimed toward ramping up stress on Netanyahu’s authorities to agree a ceasefire deal.

Close to-weekly protests calling for the federal government to safe the discharge of the hostages have taken place throughout Israel, together with close to Netanyahu’s residences, usually involving members of the family of the hostages.

Final week, the stress on Netanyahu intensified with the choice of the Worldwide Prison Court docket to problem a warrant for his arrest.

In the meantime, negotiations for a ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza have all however floor to a halt.

Aside from a short flurry of exercise final month, there have been no actual negotiations since six Israeli hostages have been executed by Hamas and found in a Gaza tunnel on the finish of August.

Qatar introduced this month it was suspending its position as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas after concluding that the 2 sides are now not negotiating in good religion.