Hamas says Israeli bombing killed 7 hostages in Gaza

Around 130 captives remain in Gaza, though Israel over 30 of them are presumed dead, while Hamas says more than 70 may have been killed

Mediators are still scrambling to lock down a new truce in Gaza, hoping to secure the release of hostages in exchange for a sustained ceasefire

2-MIN READ2-MIN

A protester holds a placard calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza outside the Branch Office of the US embassy in Tel Aviv on Friday. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:26am, 2 Mar 2024Updated: 3:55am, 2 Mar 2024

Hamas said on Friday that seven more hostages seized during its unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 had died because of Israeli military operations in Gaza.

“After examination and scrutiny during recent weeks, we have confirmed the martyrdom of a number of our mujahideen and the killing of seven enemy prisoners in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Zionist [Israeli] bombing,” said a statement attributed to a spokesman for its military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamas seized around 250 Israelis and foreigners during the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Around 130 are still held captive.

A woman holds a placard bearing the image of 19-year-old Israeli hostage Karina Ariev as relatives and supporters of Israeli captives held in Gaza protest in front of the Branch Office of the US embassy in Tel Aviv on Friday. Photo: AFP

Before Friday’s announcement by Hamas, which Agence France-Presse could not independently confirm, this included 31 that Israel said were presumed dead, among them six soldiers.