Israel has announced that eight hostages, previously set to be released by Hamas under a ceasefire agreement, are now dead. This update coincides with the large-scale return of Palestinians to northern Gaza after Israel opened checkpoints, allowing hundreds of thousands displaced by recent conflicts to head home.
According to an Israeli spokesman, the revised list of hostages from Hamas aligns with existing Israeli intelligence. Initially, 26 hostages were due for release in the first phase of the ceasefire; now, only 18 remain on the list.
The situation on the ground in Gaza is dire. Many returnees have found their homes completely destroyed. BBC reports include heart-wrenching stories from Gaza City residents, with one man discovering his house burned down and his business looted, and a woman moving from one makeshift tent to another. “Anyone who finds his house still standing, or even just a room, should consider himself lucky,” one Gazan told BBC reporter Alice Cuddy.
Satellite imagery analysis reveals that northern Gaza, particularly Gaza City, has sustained the most damage, with approximately 74% of buildings either damaged or destroyed. The process of returning has been arduous, especially for those on foot, with extensive delays expected for vehicle returns due to thorough inspections.
Israel’s recent military campaign, launched in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Since the onset of the conflict, over 47,317 people have been reported killed in Gaza, as per figures from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
For the families of the remaining Israeli hostages, the uncertainty continues to be a source of deep anguish. Our correspondent in Jerusalem, Nick Beake, emphasizes that for these families, the wait is agonizingly prolonged.
This ongoing crisis highlights the immense human cost of the conflict in Gaza and underscores the urgent need for sustained humanitarian efforts and a durable resolution to the hostilities.