Hamas’s military wing has made a shocking announcement, claiming that two of its guards have shot and killed one Israeli male hostage held in Gaza, while seriously wounding two female hostages. The Israeli military has responded, stating that they do not have enough intelligence information to confirm or refute Hamas’s claims.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades, revealed on Telegram that the shootings occurred in two separate incidents and efforts are being made to save the lives of the wounded hostages. However, he did not disclose the identities of the hostages or provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation.
Blaming the incident on what he described as Israeli “massacres” of Palestinians, Abu Ubaida’s statement marks the first time that Hamas has admitted to its guards killing hostages during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Previously, Hamas had attributed hostage deaths to Israeli air strikes, which Israel has dismissed as psychological warfare.
According to Israeli reports, 251 people were abducted during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals in southern Israel. Of the hostages taken, 111 are believed to still be in Gaza, including the bodies of 39 individuals confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
In addition to the hostages, two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza independently are being held, along with the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed during the 2014 Gaza war. The current conflict has claimed the lives of at least 39,929 individuals in Gaza, as reported by the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
As talks to end the war and secure the release of remaining hostages are set to resume in Cairo or Doha, Israel has confirmed its participation in the negotiations with mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar. However, Hamas has stated that they will not send negotiators and instead urged mediators to propose a plan based on previous agreements reached in earlier rounds of talks.
