Hamas says female hostage killed in northern Gaza
Israel says it is investigating Hamas’s claim that a female hostage was killed during an Israeli operation in northern Gaza.
Hamas did not identify the woman and it was unclear how or when she died.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it could not “verify or refute” the claim but that its representatives were in contact with the woman’s family.
“Tonight, the terrorist organization Hamas released a document in which one of the abducted women was allegedly killed,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. “We are verifying the information and cannot verify or refute it at this stage. “
Hamas claims that contact with the kidnappers was recently restored weeks later, leading to the discovery of her death.
Abu Ubayda, a spokesman for the Qassam Brigades of Hamas’ military wing, said another female hostage held with the woman was injured and her life was in danger.
Israeli authorities believe around 60 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip, and dozens more are believed to be dead.
Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, Britain and many other countries.
The news came as Israel advanced operations in Gaza on Saturday.
Some 120 people were killed in the past 48 hours as a result of Israeli airstrikes in the area, according to the region’s Hamas health ministry.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas after it launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Since then, nearly 44,000 people have died in Gaza and more than 104,000 have been injured, according to the Hamas-governed Gaza Health Ministry.
