Israeli Airstrikes Hit Location of Hostage Ahead of Release: Hamas
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Synopsis
On January 17, Hamas reported that the Israeli army bombed a site in Gaza where an Israeli hostage was to be released. This incident occurred shortly after a ceasefire agreement was announced, exacerbating tensions in the region. Meanwhile, ongoing violence has resulted in numerous casualties on both sides.
Key Takeaways
- Israeli airstrike targeted hostage site.
- 73 Palestinians killed since ceasefire.
- Prisoner exchange agreement reached.
- 46,700 Palestinians dead in ongoing conflict.
- Efforts by US, Egypt, Qatar for peace.
Gaza, Jan 17 (NationPress) The Al-Qassam Brigades, which is the military branch of Hamas, reported that the Israeli army conducted an airstrike on a site in the Gaza Strip where an Israeli hostage, who is set to be released in the initial phase of a forthcoming prisoner swap, was located.
According to Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Al-Qassam, the Israeli forces targeted a site holding one of the captives designated for release shortly after the announcement of the agreement, as per reports from Xinhua news agency.
He stated that "any act of aggression or bombing at this crucial moment by the enemy could turn the liberation of a captive into a calamity."
No additional details were provided regarding the incident, the health status of the Israeli captive, or the specifics of the targeted site.
In parallel, the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza declared today that 73 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli assaults on the Strip since the ceasefire was established.
In a statement, Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported, "As of this morning, the Israeli army has killed 73 individuals since the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, with 61 casualties occurring in Gaza City alone."
Among those killed were 20 children and 25 women, with an additional 230 individuals sustaining various injuries, according to Basal.
Recently, Egypt, Qatar, and the US issued a joint statement confirming that both factions in the conflict in Gaza had reached an agreement for a prisoner exchange and a return to ongoing tranquility, which paves the way for a lasting ceasefire. This agreement is scheduled to come into effect on January 19.
Efforts to mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas have been undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, and the US.
Since October 7, 2023, Hamas and Israel have been entangled in a catastrophic conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over 46,700 Palestinians in Gaza and caused extensive destruction.
The violence erupted following a surprise assault by Hamas on southern Israeli towns, leading to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of approximately 250 hostages.
In the meantime, Israel's military announced that it struck around 50 locations throughout the Gaza Strip on Thursday, a day after agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas.
The military claimed that the strikes were directed at a militant involved in the Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities in October 2023. The militant was said to have "participated in the massacre at the Nova Music Festival," according to the military.
Additionally, they targeted various Hamas and Islamic Jihad military sites, including weapons storage and manufacturing facilities, launch sites, and observation posts, as per their statement.
Earlier on Thursday, health authorities in Gaza indicated that Israeli airstrikes in the besieged Palestinian territory had resulted in 81 fatalities and nearly 200 injuries over the preceding day.
