Hamas official says no idea of how many Israeli hostages are alive

A senior Hamas official revealed uncertainty regarding the fate of 120 remaining hostages in Gaza, whether they are alive or not, citing a recent incident of four hostages being killed by Israeli forces in an operation to free them.

The official, Osama Hamdan, a spokesperson and member of Hamas’s political bureau, stated in an interview with CNN that no one, including Hamas, has concrete information on how many hostages are still alive. This admission comes as tensions and violence continue to escalate in the region.

During the interview, Hamdan said that an Israeli operation to free four hostages recently resulted in the deaths of three others, including a US citizen. He also responded to reports from a doctor who treated released hostages, which indicated they had endured severe mental and physical abuse.

Hamdan attributed any psychological trauma suffered by the hostages to the broader context of Israel's military actions in Gaza, including daily bombings and civilian casualties.

Hamdan outlined Hamas's conditions for any hostage release deal, emphasizing the need for guarantees of a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. He criticized the latest US-backed proposal, citing insufficient guarantees for a lasting ceasefire as a primary concern. According to sources, Hamas seeks written commitments from the US for a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal to agree to a truce.

Hamdan refuted reports suggesting that Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's chief in Gaza, had described the deaths of thousands of Palestinians as “necessary sacrifices.” He dismissed these messages, initially reported by the Wall Street Journal, as fake.

The situation further intensified with a missile barrage from southern Lebanon targeting northern Israel. Israeli emergency services reported numerous fires and property damage in the area around Kiryat Shemona but no casualties. The military confirmed the activation of warning sirens in response to the missile attacks.

Amid these developments, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) accused Israel of frequently obstructing its aid deliveries to Gaza. Unrwa, the largest aid organization operating in Gaza, expressed frustration over the lack of positive responses to its requests for aid delivery and movement permits from Israeli authorities.

Tamara Alrifai, Unrwa's director of external relations, stated that despite maintaining contact with Cogat, the Israeli body overseeing the Palestinian territories, the cooperation often failed to yield positive outcomes.

Israel has previously accused some Unrwa employees of participating in Hamas's 7 October attack and being members of terrorist organizations. However, an independent review led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna concluded that Israel had yet to provide evidence supporting these claims. Israeli officials have long criticized Unrwa, with attacks intensifying since October. Despite this, communication between Cogat and Unrwa continues, albeit strained.