“The losses of (the Israeli hostages) have become numerous while other hostages are living in extremely difficult conditions,” Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Obeida said in an audio message.
People attend a protest against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel on February 17, 2024. Photo: Reuters
“We warned dozens of times about the dangers their hostages were facing. We did not want the situation to reach this stage, but the (Israeli) leadership ignored us,” he said.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Tuesday that 31 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have died. Israel says 136 hostages are still being held in Gaza.
The Palestinian Prisoners Organization, which documents and cares for all Palestinian detainees, issued a statement on Tuesday saying the number of Palestinians arrested by Israel since October 7 has reached 7,000.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Saturday. Netanyahu's popularity has plummeted in opinion polls since the October 7 Hamas attack.
According to local media, the crowd numbered several thousand. "I want to tell the government that you have wasted your time, you have destroyed everything you can destroy. Now it is time for the people to fix all the things, all the bad things you have done," said one protester.
Prime Minister Netanyahu was asked at a press conference about calls for early elections as soon as the Gaza war ends. He dismissed them, explaining: “It will immediately divide us. We need unity now.”
Hoang Hai (according to Reuters)
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