Families of those held captive in Israel are urging the government to negotiate with Hamas for the release of approximately 100 individuals still detained in Gaza.
The Israeli military has reported the recovery of six captives bodies.
Israel recovers bodies of six captives held in besieged Gaza as it continues its 11-month-long deadly war on the Palestinian enclave https://t.co/fTUN0tpp7h pic.twitter.com/yBFWvLLGsz
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 1, 2024
one of whom holds dual US citizenship, from a tunnel in southern Gaza. This operation is part of their ongoing, nearly year-long offensive against the Palestinian territory, which has resulted in significant casualties.
Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, over 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which were triggered by a Hamas-led attack that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,100 individuals. In the aftermath of this assault, Palestinian fighters captured approximately 250 individuals. The relentless bombardment has reduced the coastal enclave to ruins, and Israel faces accusations of delaying a ceasefire agreement aimed at securing the release of the captives.
On Sunday, the military announced that the remains of the captives were found in an underground tunnel located in the Rafah region and subsequently brought back to Israel for formal identification. They asserted that the captives had been killed shortly before their bodies were discovered.
The individuals taken captive have been recognized as Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Izzat al-Risheq, a senior official of Hamas, stated that the six hostages lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes. He further accused the United States of exhibiting “bias, support, and partnership” in the ongoing 11-month conflict affecting the besieged region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take decisive action against Hamas, declaring, “We will track you down and hold you accountable.”
Netanyahu stated that individuals who take hostages are not interested in reaching a truce in Gaza.
A group representing the families of captives, who have voiced strong criticism of Netanyahu’s approach to the situation, has organized a significant protest for later on Sunday. They are demanding a total shutdown of the nation to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and the release of those still held captive.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a powerful statement, emphasizing that a proposal for the hostages’ return has been under consideration for more than two months. They pointed out that if it weren’t for the ongoing delays, sabotage, and various excuses, the individuals whose tragic deaths we learned about this morning might still be with us. It is imperative that we act now to bring our hostages home.
In a video message shared on X, opposition leader Yair Lapid urged “every citizen who feels a deep sense of loss” to join the streets in advocating for a ceasefire.
Netanyahu and his cabinet have chosen not to take action to save the hostages. I urge the Histadrut, employers, and local authorities to bring the economy to a standstill.
Netanyahu is being criticized for his unwillingness to negotiate a deal.
Menachem Klein, a political science professor at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, criticized Netanyahu and his cabinet for their unwillingness to negotiate a deal for the release of the captives, asserting that their inaction has effectively “signed the death sentence” for the Israeli hostages.
He stated to Al Jazeera, “Israel is unwilling to face the truth, and that is the core issue. This has resulted in the tragic loss of Israeli hostages.”
US President Joe Biden expressed his profound devastation and anger over the tragic loss of six captives, among them Israeli-American Goldberg-Polin.
President Biden, whose administration has supported and financed the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, vowed that “Hamas leaders will be held accountable for their actions. We are committed to tirelessly pursuing a resolution to ensure the safe return of the remaining hostages.”
In May, President Biden proposed a ceasefire agreement that included the release of captives, but Netanyahu dismissed the offer.
Just days prior, the military reported that Kaid Farhan al-Kadi, a member of a Bedouin community in southern Israel, was successfully rescued from a location approximately one kilometer away.
An unnamed Israeli official cited by the Israeli publication YNet revealed that three of the captives who lost their lives were included on a list that Hamas had approved for release on July 2. However, Al Jazeera has not been able to independently confirm this information.
Among the confirmed fatalities is Carmel Gat, whose cousin, Gil Dickmann, has been leading daily protests aimed at urging the Netanyahu government to engage in negotiations with Hamas for the release of the remaining hostages.
For Dickmann, this tragedy hits close to home. On October 7, his aunt, Kinneret Gat, lost her life in the Be’eri kibbutz in southern Israel.
Dickmann expressed frustration during a protest, stating, “Benjamin Netanyahu is not paying attention!” He urged, “Benjamin Netanyahu, keep politics away from the negotiation table!”
Approximately 100 hostages continue to be held in Gaza, while 105 have been freed as part of an agreement with Hamas. This agreement stipulates a ceasefire as a prerequisite for the release of the remaining captives.
Israel faces serious allegations of war crimes and atrocities committed against the Palestinian people. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has pursued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing their involvement in these alleged crimes. Additionally, warrants have been sought for two leaders of Hamas.