GAZA (Realist English). The armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, published on Saturday what it described as a “farewell picture” of 48 Israeli captives as the Israeli army pressed deeper into Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban center.
The image, released online, was a compilation of faces of both living and deceased captives, each labeled “Ron Arad” — a reference to the Israeli air force navigator who disappeared in Lebanon in 1986 after being captured by the Amal Movement and later handed over to Hezbollah. Arad’s fate remains uncertain.
The release was accompanied by a statement blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for rejecting agreements with Hamas and criticizing army chief Eyal Zamir, who has led the latest military offensive despite voicing concerns about government plans to “conquer” Gaza City.
Israeli authorities estimate that about 20 captives remain alive in Gaza, while U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested the number could be fewer. Both leaders have pledged to return all captives — alive and dead — and to eliminate Hamas.
Hamas has repeatedly warned that intensified bombardments and ground operations endanger the captives, some of whom, it claims, have already been killed by Israeli strikes. The group also says captives are “scattered throughout Gaza City’s neighborhoods.”
The statement came ahead of mass demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, where families of the captives and protesters have demanded an immediate deal to end the fighting and secure their release.
Earlier this month, Hamas published videos showing Israeli captives in deteriorating conditions, including one who, according to the group, was forced to dig his own grave. The footage sparked outrage among relatives and drew condemnation from Israeli and U.S. officials.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 65,208 Palestinians have been killed and 166,271 wounded since October 2023. Following the collapse of a ceasefire on March 18, Israeli attacks have left 12,653 dead and 54,230 injured.