Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis

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Posters in Tel Aviv calling for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza

On 7 October 2023, as part of the

Hamas-led attack on Israel at the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted 252 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip,[1][2][3][4][5][6] including children,[7][8][9][10][11] women, and elderly people.[12] In addition to hostages with only Israeli citizenship, almost half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships.[13] Some hostages were Negev Bedouins.[14] The precise ratio of soldiers and civilians among the captives is unknown. The captives are likely being held in different locations in the Gaza Strip.[15]

As of 14 February 2024, 112 hostages had been returned alive to Israel, with 105 being released in a prisoner exchange deal, four released by Hamas unilaterally and three rescued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).[16][17][18][19][20][21] 16 bodies of hostages were repatriated to Israel, with three of the hostages killed by friendly fire from the IDF[22] and the bodies of thirteen hostages repatriated through military operations.[23][24] 55 hostages were reportedly killed on October 7 or in Hamas captivity according to Israel.[25][26][27][28][29] According to unconfirmed Israeli intelligence, at least 20 additional hostages may be deceased, with their bodies being held captive in Gaza.[30] As of 19 May 2024, 128 hostages remained in captivity in the Gaza Strip, 124 of whom had been abducted on 7 October 2023; the other four hostages having been captured earlier.[26][31]

Hamas has offered to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners.[32] By October 2023, Israel held 5,200 Palestinians (including 170 juveniles) in its prisons. Hamas stated its objective was to secure their release.[33] Several countries have been involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar taking the lead.[34]

On 22 November 2023, Israel and Hamas agreed to the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day cease-fire in

exchange for Hamas's release of approximately 50 of the hostages. The exchange involved hostages from the categories of women and children.[35][36][37] As of 30 November 2023, the last day of the ceasefire, 105 civilian hostages had been released, which included 81 people from Israel, 23 Thais and one Filipino.[38] On 12 February 2024, two Argentinian-Israeli civilians were rescued in Operation Golden Hand. As of 17 May 2024, according to Israeli information, Hamas holds 89 hostages believed to be alive and 39 bodies.[39]

Background

The issue of hostages and prisoners is considered emotional for both Israelis and Palestinians.[33] Since 1967, between 750,000 and 1 million Palestinians have been arrested by Israel.[40][33][41] As of October 2023, Israel held over 5,200 Palestinian prisoners,[42] including at least 170 children.[33] (By November 2023, the number of Palestinian prisoners, including suspected militants and Gazans had increased to 10,000.[43]) Some have been convicted of terrorism by Israeli authorities; the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories describes many convictions as resulting from "a litany of violations of international law, including due process violations, that taint the legitimacy of the administration of justice by the occupying power."[4] About 1,310 Palestinians are held in administrative detention, a practice that allows Israel to detain Palestinians indefinitely without charges or trial.[44] Israel justifies this practice citing security reasons.[45]

Hostages have been used as bargaining chips for prisoner exchanges,[46] which is a violation of international law.[47] Hostage-taking and the abduction of civilians are prohibited by international law and are war crimes.[48][49] Israel had mostly refrained from negotiating with organizations it deemed as terrorists, opting for military or alternative measures to secure the release of hostages.[46][50] However, Israel has engaged in prisoner exchanges with armed groups on several occasions.[51]

Notable incidents include the

Nachshon Wachsman, resulting in his death during a failed rescue attempt by IDF forces.[52][53] Hamas actions were at times aimed at disrupting the peace process in the 1990s.[52] In 2006, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured and held for over five years until a prisoner exchange in 2011. Israel secured his release in exchange for 1,000 Palestinians from Israeli custody, some of whom were trialed as terrorists.[4][40] However, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories describes many convictions as resulting from "a litany of violations of international law, including due process violations, that taint the legitimacy of the administration of justice by the occupying power."[4][54] About 1,310 Palestinians are held in Administrative detention, a practice that allows Israel to detain Palestinians indefinitely without charges or trial.[44] Israel justifies this practice citing security reasons.[45]

Operation Protective Edge in 2014.[55][56] Hamas has also held the bodies of two slain Israeli soldiers, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. Additionally, at the time of its attack, Hamas was already holding two Israelis hostage: Ethiopian Israeli Avera Mengistu (since 2014) and Bedouin Israeli Hisham al-Sayed (since 2015). Hamas has also sought to ransom the remains of Israeli soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, which they seized during the 2014 Gaza War.[57][58] On 31 August 2023, Israel warned its citizens that Hamas was trying to kidnap them.[59]

2023 Hamas-Israel war. The attack resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and the occupation of towns, cities, and military bases by Hamas militants leading to widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes.[60][46] The use of hostages, primarily women, children, and the elderly, is highlighted as a violation by Hamas of international humanitarian law.[61]

7 October attacks

Hamas gunmen with civilian hostages

On the morning of 7 October 2023, around 6:30 a.m. IST, Palestinian militants led by Hamas launched an attack into Israel from multiple sites on its border with the Gaza Strip. The attack included ground and motorized infiltration into Israeli territory, attacks on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bases and exchanges of fire with security forces, massacres and shooting of Israeli civilians, and takeovers of communities and military facilities. The ground incursion was combined with and backed by a sustained barrage of thousands of rockets.[62]

At around 7:00 am, militants raided many communities and kibbutzim (intentional communities) in the Gaza periphery area of Israel. They killed civilians and soldiers across many communities resulting in 1,200 deaths.[63][64][65] The Economist described the combined attacks as "the biggest terror attack in [Israel's] history".[65]

In the initial wave of attacks, militants kidnapped civilians and brought them back to Gaza as captives.[4][5][66] According to statements by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, around 200 soldiers and civilians were captured or abducted during the raid on the Gaza periphery communities.[67][68] Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, reported on 7 October that military officers were among those captured.[69] Israel confirmed the identity of 203 captives, among them 30 children,[70] while Gaza spokespeople reported holding roughly 200, estimating that another 50 were held by other factions.[71] The IDF reported that it captured "handbooks" made by Hamas to instruct its militants; these handbooks instructed to "kill the difficult" captives, and use the rest as human shields.[72]

Blindfolded teddy bears covered with red blood stains, at Tel Aviv Dizengoff Square, representing the 30 children who were kidnapped by Hamas

Civilians believed to be held captive in Gaza include families, children, festival-goers, peace activists, caregivers, and older adults.

Alex Danzig who has written books on Poland's Jewish community and the Holocaust,[74][5] and the Bibas family were taken from their home, including an infant and 4-year-old were taken from Nir Oz.[75][76]

While many hostages had only Israeli citizenship, about half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships. Some of these hostages hold citizenship from France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States.[34][77] Israel hosts a large amount of international workers for agriculture work, with some workers also being kidnapped and held hostage. At least seventeen Thai citizens working in greenhouses in the Gaza periphery were also kidnapped.[34][77][78] One citizen of Nepal, Bipin Joshi, was confirmed to be abducted from kibbutz Alumim.[79] Two Filipinos were abducted and later released during the ceasefire.[80] Hamas also took members of the Negev Bedouin Arab community as hostages.[14]

Media documentation

There is a video depicting at least 64 of the abductees.[81] Video analysis from The Washington Post shows that some of the captives were killed shortly after their capture.[82] Images taken by the Associated Press also showed Yaffa Adar being kidnapped.[66]

On 19 November 2023, the Israeli military released reported CCTV footage that they claim shows hostages being led into Al-Shifa Hospital on 7 October. This was in the wake of Israel being put under pressure to substantiate claims that Hamas was operating an expansive command center under the hospital leading to its siege. However, shortly after the release BBC News indicated that they were unable to independently corroborate the claims and is not the evidence that Israel claimed to have.[83]

Aftermath

A "Shabbat Dinner" table at the Tel Aviv art museum plaza, with more than 200 empty seats, representing the hostages and missing held in Gaza

As part of Israel's counteroffensive, Israel implemented a

mass detentions of Palestinians in Israel and the Palestinian territories; several Israeli NGOs described the detention of several thousand Gazan workers as a form of retaliation or "vengeance" for the capture of Israeli citizens.[86][87][88]

Performance piece The Kidnapped Tunnel in Hostages Square in Israel

American-Israeli author Robby Berman set up a fund offering a reward of 1 million

Israeli shekels for the release of hostages in Gaza, specifically aimed at encouraging Palestinians to aid in the rescue of Jewish prisoners.[89]

Experts stated that an Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip would endanger the lives of the hostages.[90] U.S. officials said the Biden administration advised Israel to delay the ground invasion of Gaza to allow more time for hostage negotiations.[91] According to Israeli officials, once Israel begins a ground invasion of Gaza, it will be almost impossible to reach a deal on the release of the hostages.[92] On 24 October, US President Joe Biden rejected calls for a ceasefire, stating "We should have those hostages released and then we can talk".[93]

Status of captives

On 22 October 2023, a list of the 204 hostages was published.[94]

According to Israel, at least 250 additional individuals were captured on the first day of the war, but rescued that day.[95][96]

As of 24 February 2024, Hamas is still refusing to allow International Committee of the Red Cross representatives to meet with the 7 October hostages in Gaza.[97][98][99][100] The hostages are believed to have been dispersed among different Hamas members and factions, as well as among other militant groups, gangs and families.[101]

Negotiations

According to Haim Rubinstein, who had until April 2024 been the spokesman of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum representing the families of the hostages, the group "found out that Hamas had offered on October 9 or 10 to release all the civilian hostages in exchange for the IDF not entering the [Gaza] Strip, but the [Israeli] government rejected the offer."[102]

Hamas has offered a deal dubbed as "everyone for everyone" or "all for all" — a release of all hostages being held in Gaza in exchange for Israel releasing thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.[103][32] Some Israeli families have spoken in support for such a deal.[104][105] Haim Rubinstein, former spokesman for a group of hostages' families, in May 2024 accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "preventing a deal" due to a "conflict of interest": when "the hostages are released, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir will leave the government because they’ll think the price was too high ... Netanyahu knows that if he goes to elections at this time he won't be able to form a new government, and he is motivated by cold political considerations."[102]

Shortly after the October attacks Thailand had been in official talks with Hamas with a group convened by the countries parliamentary speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha about the release of their citizens. The group conveyed to Hamas that the citizens were not party to the conflict, but instead part of the around 30,000 Thai laborer's who work in the Israeli agriculture sectors. While some had been captured about 39 were killed in the attacks and about 8,600 repatriated back to Thailand.[106][107]

On 8 November, Hamas sources told news agencies that Hamas could release 10–15 hostages in exchange for a three-day humanitarian pause in fighting.[103] On 9 Nov, Benjamin Netanyahu had reportedly rejected such an exchange.[108] On 13 November it was reported that Hamas had told Qatari mediators that the group was willing to release up to 70 women and children hostages held in Gaza for a five-day truce and the release of 275 women and children held by Israel.[109]

On 9 November, Al-Quds Brigades released a video where spokesperson Abu Hamza states that they are prepared for the unconditional release of 77-year old Hanna Katsir, citing humanitarian reasons and their inability to provide her with her specific medical needs, as well as the release of 13-year old Yagil Yaakov. Israel refused the offer, claiming it would play into the captor's "psychological terror".[110] On 21 November, it was erroneously reported that Katsir had died from medical complications, however she was still alive and was released on 24 November.[111] Yagil Yaakov, alongside his older brother, were released on 27 November.[112]

On 22 November it was announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement about a cease fire and the release of 50 hostages. While hostages held by Hamas would not be released until 23 November at the earliest, those released would be woman and children, in response the Israeli government would release 150 Palestinian prisoners, more aid would be allowed into Gaza and a four-day cease-fire which would be added onto for every 10 additional hostages released. Hamas has acknowledged that of the hostages released children would be the main component of the hostages released, and the IDF has planned that an IDF officer would be on hand to facilitate the crossing and handover with the hostages being transferred into Israel for medical care.[113][114] As of 26 November, Hamas had released a total of 58 hostages since the ceasefire went into effect, some of whom were foreign nationals and not included in the agreement to release 50 Israelis.[115][116]

In April 2024 it was reported that a senior Hamas official stated that the group did not have 40 living hostages in Gaza that met the criteria for an exchange under a proposed cease-fire that was being negotiated. Negotiators had proposed an initial six week cease-fire in which Hamas would have released held hostages in waves, with a primary group of 40 to be compromised of women, older people, ill hostages and five female IDF troops, with Israel releasing Palestinians held in Israeli prisons among other demands.[117]

Rescue operations

A captured IDF private was freed on 30 October in an operation headed by the IDF, with assistance from Shin Bet and Mossad.[118][119] On 8 December, Hamas claimed they repelled an attempted hostage rescue by Israeli special forces, inflicting several military casualties.[120] Hamas also said that a hostage named Sahar Baruch died in the incident.[121] On the same day of 8 December, according to an IDF statement, two Israeli soldiers were wounded in a failed hostage rescue attempt.[122] It is unclear whether the statements of Hamas and the IDF refer to the same event.[121]

During the early morning of 12 February 2024, the IDF, Shin Bet and special police forces coupled with airstrikes, rescued two hostages with dual Israel-Argentinian nationality, 60 year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70 year-old Louis Har, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on 7 October by Hamas, from a building in Rafah in southern Gaza. One Israeli soldier was injured and 37 Hamas militants, including the hostages' guards, were reported killed during the rescue operation.[123][124] According to Amnesty International, the operation and airstrikes led to the deaths of at least 95 civilians, including children.[125]

In May 2024, it was reported that based on IDF interrogations of detained reported terrorists in Gaza an overnight operation was conducted resulting in the recovery of the bodies of three hostages including that of Shani Louk. It was reported that all three recovered bodies had been kidnapped initially from the Re'im music festival massacre, before being killed near the site of the festival and their bodies recovered in a Hamas tunnel.[126]

Release of hostages

Hila Rotem, aged 13, embraced by her uncle, Yair Rotem, upon their reunion on 26 November 2023, following her release. Her mother, Raaya Rotem, would be released on 29 November 2023.

On 20 October, Hamas released two American hostages for humanitarian reasons and in response to Qatari and US pressure.[127][128] The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it helped facilitate the release of the hostages by transporting them from Gaza to Israel.[128] On 23 October, Hamas released two Israeli women hostages, aged 79 and 85, for humanitarian reasons after mediation by Qatar and Egypt. The ICRC helped transport them out of Gaza. The released hostages were from the Nir Oz kibbutz.[34][129] One of the released hostages, Yocheved Lifshitz, and her husband Oded, a journalist still in captivity, are known peace activists that helped Palestinians in Gaza get to hospitals in Israel.[129][130] Lifshitz's daughter Sharone said that Lifshitz and other hostages were held in a "huge network" of tunnels. Lifshitz was critical of both the Shin Bet and the IDF, and the press conference was criticized as a PR disaster for Israel.[131][132]

Release of hostages during Iron Swords war

On 27 October, a Hamas official said that Hamas could not release the hostages taken during the attack on Israel until a ceasefire is agreed.[133][134] On 22 November, Israel and Hamas agreed to the release 150 of Palestinian prisoners and a four-day cease-fire in exchange for Hamas's release of approximately 50 of the hostages.[35] On 24 November, the release of 50 women and children hostages by Hamas over a four-day period began after negotiations with Israel, with hostages being released into the care of the Red Cross through the Rafah Border Crossing and then to the Israeli Hatzerim Military Base. Some of this group were dual and foreign nationals, with individuals from Israel, Thailand, and the Philippines counted in the first group released.[35][135]

As of 26 November 2023, a total of 41 hostages had been released by Hamas during the four-day ceasefire.[17] Of those released, 26 were Israeli (some being dual citizens) with a breakdown of 13 released on 24 November and 13 on 25 November.[116] In addition, 14 Thai hostages and one Filipino were released as part of a separate deal.[116] An additional 17 hostages (including 14 Israelis and one American) were released on 26 November, in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners.[18]

Israel published a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners that it would potentially release in exchange for Israeli hostages in Gaza, 287 of which are children below the age of 18.

PFLP.[138]

A Russian-Israeli man was released on 26 November outside of the cease fire agreement. Musa Abu Marzouk, an official within Hamas indicated that the release was in appreciation for President Vladimir Putin's position. Putin has been openly critical of the Israeli operation in regards to Gaza and the mounting casualties.[139]

Reported deaths

Hostage being dragged through Al Shifa Hospital by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023

The IDF confirmed on 13 October that remains of missing Israeli people were located and retrieved in the Gaza Strip.[140] On 14 October, Hamas stated that nine hostages had been killed over a 24-hour period due to Israeli airstrikes.[141] On 4 November, Hamas reported that 60 hostages had died as a result of Israel's bombing of Gaza.[142] An Israeli official responded that "Regardless of what Hamas claims, any harm done to hostages is Hamas's responsibility and they will be held accountable."[143] According to the IDF, half of the hostages were killed during the abduction or died in captivity.[144][145] At least two bodies of deceased hostages have been recovered, as of 16 November.[146]

Along with reported CCTV footage released on 19 November, Israel announced that an IDF soldier who had been captured on 7 October had been killed by Hamas while being held at the Al-Shifa hospital. Hamas denied this and indicated the soldier had been previously reported by them as being killed by an Israeli airstrike on 9 November.[83]

On 29 November, Hamas claimed that the youngest hostage; a 10-month old toddler and his 4-year-old brother and mother were killed while in captivity due to Israeli bombings. The claim is being investigated by the IDF and other agencies, and Israeli officials have stated the account shows the "barbarism and cruelty of Hamas".[147]

Hamas released a video of the dead body of Arie Zalmanovich, 86, from kibbutz Nir Oz. According to Hamas he died of a heart attack.[148] Zalmanovich had medical conditions and required medical treatment.[149] His son attributed the death to the lack of medicines and suitable food in captivity.[150]

On 15 December, the IDF stated that during operations in Shuja'iyya, they "mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat" and killed them via friendly fire.[151] The three hostages were three men in their 20s, who were identified after having their bodies returned to Israel.[151][22][152] According to an Israeli military official on 16 December, the three hostages were shirtless and "they have a stick with a white cloth on it. The [Israeli] soldier feels threatened and opens fire. He declares that they're terrorists"; more Israeli forces shoot, killing two hostages "immediately" and wounding the third hostage, who appealed for help in Hebrew, then "there's another burst of fire [by Israeli forces] towards the third [hostage] and he also dies".[153] Haaretz reported that the third hostage retreated into a building after the other two hostages were shot, with IDF soldiers following the third hostage and shooting him dead because they thought he was a terrorist setting a trap.[154] Yediot Ahronot reported that Israeli soldiers had called for the third hostage to come out of the building he was hiding in, and then shot him when he reappeared.[155] The Israeli military investigated the killings and concluded on 28 December that the Israeli "soldiers carried out the right action to the best of their understanding of the event at that moment".[156]

On February 2024, it was announced that through a confidential assessment conducted by Israeli intelligence officials, there were more deceased hostages than previously known. In the report thirty-two of the hostages held in Gaza were declared as deceased, with an additional twenty hostages status still undetermined.[157]

On April 24, 2024, Hamas had released a two-minute video of Hersch Goldberg-Polin read from a teleprompter, stating the need for the Israeli government to bring him home as well as that 70 of the 130 hostages have been killed in Israeli bombings. He also stated in the video that he was living in an “underground hell without water, food, sun or medical treatment”.[158]

Treatment of captives