Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
As the Israeli military offensive deepens into its second day in Gaza City, concerns are mounting over the fate of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. A source within the Palestinian group said on Wednesday that the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, has been moving the hostages between multiple locations within the city to avoid Israeli airstrikes.
According to the source, the movement was prompted by the intensifying bombardment, which poses a serious risk to the hostages’ lives. “There is real fear for their safety amid the relentless Israeli shelling,” the source said. “Their fate is now shrouded in uncertainty due to the indiscriminate nature of the strikes.”
This revelation comes amid escalating criticism within Israel over the government’s handling of the hostage crisis. On Tuesday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the relatives of the captives, issued a stark accusation against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group alleged that Netanyahu had chosen to “sacrifice the hostages for political reasons,” disregarding the warnings and assessments of military and intelligence leaders.
Netanyahu, however, responded with a stern warning to Hamas. Speaking at a press conference, he vowed harsh retaliation if any harm were to come to the captives. “If a single hair on any hostage’s head is touched, we will hunt them with greater force until the end of their lives and that end will come much sooner than they expect,” he said. He also emphasized that Hamas would pay a “heavy price” if it continued to use the hostages as human shields.
Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir, reinforced that the military is proceeding cautiously but decisively, keeping the hostages’ safety a top priority. “We are advancing with determination, but also with great care,” he stated.
On the other side, Hamas has sought to shift the blame for any harm to the captives onto Israel. In a statement issued just before the start of the ground operation, the group said Israel would bear full responsibility for the fate of the hostages. It also accused the United States of echoing Israeli “propaganda” regarding the use of human shields, dismissing claims that Hamas is deliberately endangering the captives.
As of now, Israeli authorities estimate that 48 hostages remain inside the Gaza Strip. However, intelligence assessments suggest that only about 20 are still believed to be alive.
The situation remains volatile, with the ground offensive intensifying and diplomatic efforts appearing stagnant. The hostages’ uncertain fate has become a central and deeply emotional issue in Israel, fueling public pressure and political division. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, with civilians both Palestinian and Israeli caught in the crossfire of a conflict with no clear end in sight.
