Hamas has claimed that 33 captives held by the group in Gaza have been killed since the start of Israel’s war in the enclave, which has been ongoing for nearly 14 months. The group issued a video statement on Monday, blaming the deaths on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions, which it described as “stubborn” and “aggressive.” According to Hamas, the captives were killed primarily in Israeli airstrikes, as well as some Israeli military rescue attempts gone wrong. The first of these incidents occurred on October 9, 2023, when four captives were killed in an airstrike, and the most recent involved a captive’s death during an Israeli military operation in northern Gaza.
Hamas also warned that if the conflict continues, the captives could be lost forever. This announcement comes as key international mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, push for a ceasefire that would facilitate the release of Israeli captives.
