Israeli forces discover bodies in Gaza, suspected to be hostages: Report
PTC News Desk: During ongoing military operations in Gaza, Israeli forces have discovered several bodies believed to be those of kidnapped Israeli hostages. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are currently in the process of extracting and identifying the bodies, a task expected to take several hours. While there is speculation that the bodies belong to hostages taken by Palestinian militants, this has not yet been officially confirmed by Israeli authorities.
According to a statement from the IDF reported by the Times of Israel, "At this stage, the forces are still operating in the area and carrying out a process to extract and identify the bodies, which will last several hours." The grim discovery follows the recent rescue of a 52-year-old Israeli hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, from an underground tunnel in southern Gaza by Israeli forces.
U.S. President Joe Biden has acknowledged the discovery, stating that his administration is in close contact with Israeli officials. He noted that the exact number of bodies remains unclear as identification efforts are ongoing. Addressing the situation, Biden emphasized the need for an end to the conflict, expressing cautious optimism about potential negotiations with Hamas, the militant group in Gaza, for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. "It’s time this war ended," Biden stated. "We think we can close the deal; they’ve all said they agree on the principles," he added, referring to ongoing negotiations.
The discovery of bodies has sparked immediate reactions within Israel. The Hostage Forum, a prominent activist group, issued a call to action against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. In a strong statement, the group declared, "Netanyahu abandoned the hostages. It is now a fact. Starting tomorrow, the country will tremble. We call on the public to prepare. The country will grind to a halt. The abandonment is over." This call for protests reflects the growing frustration among some Israelis over the government’s handling of the hostage crisis.
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Opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticised Netanyahu, accusing him of neglecting the plight of the hostages. "Our sons and daughters are being abandoned and dying in captivity," Lapid stated, arguing that the government is focusing on less critical issues while lives are at stake.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported significant casualties as a result of the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza. Since the conflict escalated on October 7, following an attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in around 250 hostages being taken, a total of 40,691 people have been reported killed and 94,060 injured in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.
The discovery of the bodies in Gaza and the subsequent reactions underscore the intense and tragic nature of the ongoing conflict, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution and the safe return of all hostages.
- With inputs from agencies
