Israel: The Palestinian militant group Hamas has said it will release some foreign hostages in the coming days.
The Qassam Brigades spokesman, Mr. Abu Obeida, announced the decision in a video address. The spokesman also promised to turn Gaza into a “graveyard” and a “quagmire” for Israeli forces amid increased ground operations.
“We have informed intermediaries that we will release a certain number of foreigners in the next few days,” Mr. Obeida said.
Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza has been hit in the latest Israeli airstrike, causing severe damage to the buildings and killing dozens. The Israeli authorities claim that they killed senior Hamas commander Mr. Ibrahim Biari, who was the key brain of the October 7, 2023, attack.
More than 230 people were taken by Hamas in that attack. The hostages include Israeli soldiers and civilians, as well as foreigners from several countries. The Israeli authorities said that Hamas killed 1400 people in this attack.
Israel, human rights groups, and the United Nations have called for the immediate release of the hostages.
“Hamas and Islamic Jihad are committing war crimes by holding scores of Israelis and others as hostages in Gaza. No grievance can justify holding anyone hostage,” the rights group Human Rights Watch stated in a statement.
Hamas has released five hostages to date. Four were released through diplomatic channels, and the other one was released in a ground raid by Israeli forces inside Gaza.
Israeli families of those killed on October 7, 2023, have called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the killings and abductions.
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