Latest news with #AlonShamriz
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- General
- Al Bawaba
Haaretz: Israelis have killed 20 of its own captives in Gaza
ALBAWABA - According to a recent study by the Israeli daily Haaretz, Israeli military activities since the war's start on October 7, 2023, have murdered at least 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The research highlights the serious repercussions of Israeli bombings conducted without verified information on hostage locations, even though military authorities have repeatedly said that every attempt is being taken to protect the hostages. According to the research, Israeli attacks have put the lives of 54 prisoners in immediate jeopardy. The military often bombarded sites where hostages could be present without first confirming their precise whereabouts. One such instance mentioned was on April 7, 2025, when an Israeli aircraft struck a structure above a tunnel that was housing two hostages, Matan Zangoker and Idan Alexander. After the tunnel partly collapsed, the two barely made it out alive. Despite assertions of having accurate information, the episode revealed serious intelligence shortcomings. According to military insiders, operations go according to schedule if there is no information available on the hostages. "The more strikes we carry out, the more we risk harming the hostages," one insider told Haaretz. By recounting their horrific stories of barely escaping attacks, several former prisoners also disclosed that they were more afraid of Israeli bombs than of Hamas imprisonment. Three captives—Alon Shamriz, Samer Talalka, and Yoav Haim—were shot dead by Israeli soldiers when they came out nude with white flags, thinking they were being freed, according to the report. The troops were not informed that there were prisoners in the region. Another incidence occurred in February when an Israeli attack on a tunnel produced poisonous fumes that caused six captives to suffocate and die in Khan Younis. Yoram Metzger and Yagiv Buchstab were among the deceased. The hostages' families have voiced their indignation at what they see as the military's and government's "systemic negligence." One hostage's mother, Einav Zangoker, denounced the continuous attacks as politically driven acts that disrespect the life of the captives. "While the government bombs possible holding sites, our sons have been left behind for 600 days," she said. The military acknowledged some of the failures, with officials admitting that intelligence about hostage locations is often fleeting and quickly outdated once captives are relocated. One source described the army as effectively 'blind' in many operations, with decisions frequently made before receiving updated intelligence.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Activists send a message in Israel's skies to mark 600 days of war, Gaza captivity
It has been 600 days since 251 Israeli hostages were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attacks, with 58 remaining in captivity. Activists from Ramat Hanegev's Paradise Club filmed a video creating the shape of a hostage ribbon while skydiving to symbolize 600 days since the October 7 massacre on Wednesday. The group published the video alongside the text 'We are all hostages, paratroopers leave no one behind.' It has been 600 days since 251 Israeli hostages were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attacks, with 58 remaining in captivity. Since the beginning of the war, 148 hostages have been returned alive to Israel – 105 released in the 2023 ceasefire, five released by Hamas outside the framework of any ceasefire agreement, eight rescued by the IDF, and 30 released during this year's ceasefire. Activists from Ramat Hanegev's Paradise Club filmed a video creating the shape of a hostage ribbon while skydiving. In December 2023, Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim, and Samer Talalka escaped Hamas captivity but were mistakenly shot by IDF soldiers. In August 2024, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino were executed by Hamas when IDF rescuers came too close to reaching them. Recently, Hamas claimed it agreed to a framework for a permanent Gaza ceasefire with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, though Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post they were 'not aware of any agreement reached between Hamas and the US. Hamas's attempt to use the 'Witkoff framework' as a branded concept to promote their own vision will not succeed."
