Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Friday that two Israeli hostages held in Gaza were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Rafah a few days ago. The group conveyed this information through a video posted on its Telegram channel but did not provide the names of the deceased or any corroborating evidence.
In the statement, the al-Qassam Brigades accused the Israeli government of not wanting the hostages to return alive, implying that Israeli actions are intended to prevent their safe return. “The Israeli government does not want your hostages to return, except in coffins,” the statement said.
This claim follows a recent Israeli operation on June 8, where four hostages were rescued from central Gaza’s al-Nuseirat area. The health ministry in Gaza reported that more than 250 Palestinians were killed during this raid.
The conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, has resulted in significant casualties. According to Israeli reports, approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed, and over 250 hostages were taken during the initial assault. The Israeli military response has led to the deaths of more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel maintains that its ongoing military campaign aims to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas and secure the release of remaining hostages.
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