According to a recent report, a significant number of the 133 hostages held captive in Gaza by Hamas have already lost their lives. This disheartening revelation has been brought to light by US intelligence officials.
The report, which originated from the esteemed Wall Street Journal, suggests that the actual number of deceased hostages could be more than double the estimate provided by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF approximates that 34 hostages may have perished since the onset of the hostage situation on October 7, either due to the initial terror attack or during their six-month-long captivity.
According to officials familiar with US and Israeli intelligence on the hostage crisis, the actual number of casualties could be much higher.
The intelligence sources have attributed the death of the hostages to various factors including injuries sustained during their captivity, illnesses, and the ongoing airstrikes by the IDF in Gaza.
As per some US officials, a majority of the remaining hostages in Gaza have already succumbed to the harsh conditions of their captivity.
The grim situation has led to widespread rallies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem where Israelis are demanding immediate ratification of a cease-fire deal to free their loved ones.
Among the hostages, five are American citizens. Their current status remains unclear. The list of hostages also includes eight Thai nationals, a Nepali citizen, a French-Mexican dual citizen, and a Tanzanian national who, unfortunately, has already passed away.
Apart from the hostages taken during the October 7 attack, Hamas is also believed to be holding two Israelis captured prior to the attack and the remains of two IDF soldiers killed during the Gaza fighting in 2014.
The grim reality of the hostages’ situation was further highlighted when Hamas revealed that it couldn’t meet the conditions of a US-led cease-fire proposal. The proposal demanded a list of 40 hostages, including women, the sick, and the elderly, to be released in exchange for a six-week truce in Gaza.
Hamas, the terror group responsible for the hostage situation, has been largely silent about the condition of the captives. They have released videos of a few hostages for propaganda purposes and blamed Israeli airstrikes for the alleged death of some of the abductees.
The Israeli public continues to rally for their loved ones. Hostage Square, located in Tel Aviv, is filled with posters of the Hamas captives, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis.
While the cease-fire talks are progressing slowly, Israel continues to launch airstrikes against Hamas sites in Gaza. The future of the hostages hangs in the balance as the conflict continues.
