JERUSALEM — A weeklong cease-fire that introduced the exchanges of dozens of hostages held by Hamas for scores of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel gave method Friday morning to resumed preventing between Israel and Hamas. As mediators scuttle between the warring sides in a last-ditch effort to dealer one other swap, questions emerge on who stays in captivity within the besieged enclave.
Hamas and different militants seized round 247 hostages of their lethal Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, by which greater than 1,200 folks have been killed. Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip in return, killing a minimum of 13,300 folks, two-thirds of them girls and youngsters, in response to well being authorities within the Hamas-ruled territory.
This is a better have a look at the destiny of the hostages.
Israel stated on Friday that 136 hostages stay in Gaza. They embrace 119 males and 17 girls and youngsters, in response to army spokesperson Daniel Hagari. Roughly 10 of the hostages are 75 and older, the Prime Minister’s Workplace stated Friday.
The overwhelming majority are Israeli whereas 11 are overseas nationals, together with eight from Thailand, one from Nepal and Tanzania every, and one French-Mexican.
Earlier, authorities spokesperson Eylon Levy listed the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel and their mom Shiri as nonetheless being among the many hostages. The army has stated it is investigating a Hamas declare that the boys and their mom have been killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Hagari offered no details about the three.
Households of hostages who haven’t been launched are nonetheless ready in desperation, calling on the federal government to carry their family members house.
They hear reviews from the households of lately freed hostages that situations are tough and fear their family members do not need ample meals and water. They plead with the Pink Cross to carry their family members badly wanted medication. They agonize as mere crumbs of details about their family members floor.
Sharone Lifschitz, whose mom was freed in October, heard this week {that a} returned hostage had seen her father, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, in captivity. Her father, who spells the household identify in another way, was final seen shot whereas militants carted him off to Gaza.
She says the information was a “ray of sunshine” however that she wonders if it is nonetheless true.
“My father is ailing, is frail. He wants medication,” she stated. “I do not understand how lengthy he can survive in such harsh situations.”
She stated the return of girls and youngsters hostages has been bittersweet as their husbands and fathers stay in captivity. The concept youngsters would be capable of get well from captivity whereas their fathers stay hostages was “unthinkable,” she added.
Because the cease-fire waned, the army stated Friday that 4 hostages have been reported to have died in captivity, together with the oldest particular person held hostage.
All of the 4, 56-year previous Maya Goren, 86-year previous Arye Zalmanovich, 54-year-old Ronan Engel, and 75-year-old Eliyahu Margalit, have been from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The kibbutz was devastated within the assault, with roughly 1 / 4 of its folks killed or kidnapped.
On Thursday, the army introduced the loss of life of Ofir Tzarfati, one other Israeli believed to have been held hostage. Two different hostages have died in Hamas captivity since Oct. 7, in response to the army.
Officers have stated little about how the deaths have been decided however the military has stated it has collected invaluable data from the returned hostages.
Zalmanovich, a father of two and grandfather of 5, was a founding father of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a press release from the lacking households group stated. Goren was a mom of 4 and a kindergarten trainer for the kibbutz. Her husband was killed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.
Engel, a father of three, was a photographer and volunteer paramedic whose spouse and two daughters have been launched from Gaza this week, the group stated.
The group didn’t instantly launch data on Margalit.
Through the cease-fire, some 110 hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza have been returned to their households, Israel’s authorities stated Friday. They embrace 86 Israeli residents and 24 overseas nationals, most of them Thais.
The returnees have principally appeared in secure well being situation, in a position to stroll and communicate usually although many misplaced weight in captivity. One 84-year-old hostage returned in crucial situation after not receiving correct medical care, docs stated. One other got here again on crutches.
Households have greeted the return of their family members with pleasure and pleasure, however docs have warned of the psychological toll of captivity and say they face a protracted highway to restoration.
There have been no in-depth tales of the hostages’ ordeal or captivity as the federal government has urged these launched, their households and the media to not make public particulars of their time as prisoners to assist guarantee the security of these nonetheless being held.