Israel’s prime minister has stated there’s “uncertainty” in regards to the situation of three of 24 hostages beforehand believed to be alive in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu stated he knew “with certainty” that 21 hostages had been alive however the standing of “three extra” was unclear.
His feedback got here after US President Donald Trump stated 24 hostages had been alive every week in the past however the determine was now 21. He made the feedback whereas talking at an occasion on the White Home on Tuesday and didn’t cite a supply or present additional particulars.
The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board had demanded data.
The discussion board additionally urged Netanyahu to halt his plans to broaden Israel’s offensive in Gaza and to as an alternative agree a take care of Hamas to return its remaining 59 residing and useless hostages.
A spokesperson referred to as on the prime minister “to cease the struggle till the return of the final abductee”, including: “That is essentially the most pressing and necessary nationwide job.”
Talking in a video on Wednesday following Trump’s remarks, Netanyahu stated: “We all know with certainty that 21 hostages are alive. There are three extra concerning whom there’s uncertainty about whether or not they’re alive.”
Final week, Netanyahu stated rescuing hostages was a “crucial objective” of the struggle, however that “the supreme objective is to realize victory over our enemies”.
Israel’s chief navy spokesman Brig-Gen Effie Defrin appeared to contradict the prime minister on Monday when he said: “The target of the operation is the return of our hostages, the dismantling and decisive defeat of the Hamas regime.”
Regardless of that assertion, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reports that the military’s chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, presented operational orders to commanders this week that put “returning the hostages” bottom of a six-point list, with “defeating Hamas” on the high.
Israeli officers have stated the plans for the expanded offensive embrace seizing all the territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking up help distribution with personal corporations regardless of protests from the UN and its humanitarian companions.
About 1,200 individuals had been killed and 251 others had been taken hostage in the course of the Hamas-led assaults on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the Gaza struggle.
One other 4 individuals, two of them useless, had been already being held captive in Gaza earlier than the battle.
To this point, Israel has secured the return of 196 hostages, 147 of them alive, principally via two non permanent ceasefire offers with Hamas.
No less than 52,653 individuals have been killed in Gaza in the course of the struggle, in accordance with the territory’s Hamas-run well being ministry.
Greater than 2,500 have died since Israel ended a two-month ceasefire on 18 March and resumed its offensive, saying it wished to place stress on Hamas to launch hostages.
Israel has additionally blocked all deliveries of humanitarian help and different provides for 9 weeks, which the UN says has triggered extreme shortages of meals, medication and gasoline.
