Hamas Hostages
Israel deploys a reserve brigade to the Gaza Strip
The Israeli military is deploying reserve brigades to the Gaza Strip for a ground offensive against Hamas in Rafah, despite concerns about the humanitarian impact. President Joe Biden signed a foreign aid bill providing funding for Israel’s military and humanitarian aid for Gaza.
A video released by Hamas shows Gilad Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage who was killed in an Israeli attack, criticizing the Israeli government. The Hostages Families Forum is calling for the release of hostages taken by Hamas as tensions escalate following Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s military operation to eliminate the group.
Key Concepts
- The Israeli military is deploying reserve brigades to Gaza for a ground offensive against Rafah.
- President Biden signed a foreign aid bill with funding for Israel’s military and humanitarian aid for Gaza.
- Hamas released a video of an Israeli-American hostage, believed to be authentic by family.
- Gilad Goldberg-Polin criticizes the Israeli government in a video released by Hamas.
- The FBI reviewed a video of a hostage, used as propaganda by Hamas.
- Israeli citizens protesting for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
- Hostages Families Forum appeals for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.
- Israel reports 100 hostages still being held by Hamas.
- Many countries consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
- Israel launched a military operation to eliminate Hamas, resulting in casualties among Palestinians.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday (April 24) that it was deploying two reserve brigades to the Gaza Strip, a move that comes as Israel prepares to launch a ground offensive against the southern city of Rafah.
The military said the brigades would carry out “defensive and tactical missions” but gave no further details.
Israeli officials say an offensive against Rafah is necessary to achieve the goal of eliminating Hamas terrorists.
The United States, the United Nations, and other organizations have expressed concern about the ground offensive, saying it could lead to a humanitarian disaster in Rafah. More than half of Gaza’s population has taken refuge in the area, with many fleeing other parts of Gaza due to fighting and Israeli evacuation orders.
Despite tensions between the United States and Israel over Rafah, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid bill on Wednesday that includes $26.4 billion for Israel, including military spending, and approximately $1 billion in humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
Israel’s foreign minister thanked President Biden on social media platform X.
Hopes for a hostage’s family
Separately, Hamas released a video on Wednesday of what appears to be Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage who was killed in an Israeli attack on October 7. One of about 250 hostages was taken in domestic terrorist attacks.
The video could not be independently confirmed, but his family said they believed it was him.
In the nearly three-minute-long video, Goldberg-Polin, 24, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for failing to protect him and other Israelis on October 7. He said Netanyahu should be “ashamed” of ignoring an agreement to hold hostages for more than 200 days and refusing to release them.
Goldberg-Polin said he had been living in “a hell underground,” and he raised his left arm to show the stump of his hand that was blown off by a grenade at the Nova music festival where he was abducted.
He mentioned how long he had been detained and the Jewish Passover holiday this week, indicating that the video was recorded recently. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said the FBI was reviewing the video.
Hamas regularly releases similar propaganda videos to pressure the Israeli government and cause further psychological distress, while Israeli citizens demonstrate daily to demand the release of the hostages.
The Hostages Families Forum said the Goldberg-Pohling family allowed Hamas to share the video after it was released.
The forum said in a statement: “Hirsh’s appeal is a collective appeal for all the hostages; their time is running out rapidly. As each day passes, the fear of more innocent lives being lost grows stronger. We cannot waste any more time; hostages must be a priority.”
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israel. Israel said the militants were still holding about 100 hostages and the bodies of more than 30 other hostages.
The United States, Britain, Israel, and many other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Israel responded with a military operation aimed at eliminating Hamas and ensuring that the group could not launch future attacks, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured more than 77,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Gaza’s health ministry did not distinguish between civilians and combatants but said two-thirds of the dead were women and children.
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