The new operation in the Gaza Strip, which the Israeli cabinet decided on today, is a "death sentence" for the hostages who remain captive in the Palestinian territory, their relatives warned, quoted by DPA, BTA reported.
The Forum of Hostage Families said that the Israeli cabinet's decision to operate in Gaza is an official confirmation that the hostages will be abandoned, and will lead to a "colossal catastrophe" for the Israeli soldiers and political leadership.
According to the assessment of the Israeli authorities, 50 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. The war in the Strip was triggered by the attack by the Palestinian Islamist organization "Hamas" against Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 were kidnapped, DPA recalls.
According to health authorities in Gaza, which is controlled by "Hamas", more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since the beginning of the conflict. This statistic does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, but is considered reliable by the UN and other organizations, DPA points out.