Terrorist group Hamas released video of two Israeli hostages alive inside Gaza City, hoping to dissuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from continuing his siege of the stronghold.
Hamas published footage on Friday showing captive Israeli citizen Guy Gilboa-Dalal being driven through different parts of Gaza City. The hostage was apparently forced to read a statement by his captors demanding an immediate ceasefire.
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“This is all we want, we just want it to end,” Gilboa-Dalal is heard saying. “We want to return to our families. Please bring us back.”
Gilboa-Dalal was also briefly joined in the car by fellow hostage Alon Ohel, who repeatedly said, “I can’t believe I’m seeing you.”
Approximately 47 Israeli hostages are still held by Hamas, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Israel claims to be in control of about 40% of Gaza City as its efforts to eradicate Hamas and rescue the hostages escalate.
“In the coming days, the [Israel Defense Forces] will carry out precise strikes against Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza City,” the Israeli military said. “The IDF has conducted extensive intelligence and identified significant Hamas terrorist activity within a wide variety of infrastructure sites in Gaza City.”
The IDF posted a statement to social media on Friday alleging to have found sniper positions, command centers, and tunnels extending under the city. The post included a 3D animated map showing the reported positions of this Hamas infrastructure.
“Hamas exploits civilian infrastructure in Gaza, endangering the civilian population in Gaza,” the IDF statement continued. “Numerous measures will be taken to minimize the risk of harming civilians as much as possible.”
Netanyahu has been criticized by his opponents in the Knesset, the families of hostages, and former captives themselves for refusing to strike a deal for their safe release.
“Government of Israel — drop the excuses! A deal is necessary now, before it’s too late,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a Thursday statement. “A framework for the return of the hostages and an end to the war is on the table, but Netanyahu continues to torpedo it for political considerations, against the will of more than 80% of the nation, and against the advice of the security establishment.”
Former hostage Iair Horn, who was released by Hamas as part of the first exchange earlier this year, spoke at a protest against the government on Friday.
“In my life, I never imagined that we’d get to day 700, and I’d be standing here speaking about my brother Eitan, who is still hostage, and about my friends who are still held in captivity,” he said. “There aren’t enough hands to hold all these signs, and so we need you.”
IDF EXPECTS ROUGHLY 200,000 PALESTINIANS TO DEFY GAZA CITY EVACUATION ORDER
Israel has issued multiple orders to evacuate Gaza City but expects about 200,000 Palestinians to ignore the directive.
Christians are among the demographics refusing to leave the area, instead cloistering in churches and hoping that the IDF will not attack the holy sites. The Israeli military has previously struck other churches in Gaza — later calling the attacks accidental.
The IDF struck the Mushtaha tower, a high-rise building in Rimal, on Friday, claiming it was being used as a surveillance center for Hamas.