The perished 6. Israel has murdered more than 40,000 Palestinians, vastly civilians and an estimated 20,000 babies and children.
Military experts have said Israel’s bombing of Gaza is 4.6 times stronger in total explosive force than Hiroshima bombing.
It is more than Dresden, Hamburg and London combined during WW2.
Is it any wonder that that Israeli ‘hostages’ are being found dead under the rubble of Gaza.
The captives were identified as Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi and Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq confirmed this earlier today – “the six were killed in Israeli air strikes” and blamed the US for its “bias, support and partnership” with Israel.
One of the dead was American Hersh Goldberg-Polin – yet Biden continues to supply the bombs under pressure from the Zionist lobby and Zionist Congress. For them, this is “collateral” in their dream for a “greater Israel” – Trump in one of his campaign speeches confirming as much -saying: “is there any way we can expand Israel”.
The families of the captives and some objective Israeli politicians continue to blame Israel, not Hamas, for the failure to secure the release of those still held.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi and Carmel Gat were slated to be released as part of the “humanitarian category” based on the framework Israel and Hamas agreed to in early July, the officials said.
“Our prime minister delayed it,” one of the Israeli officials said. “It’s way too late for the six who have been killed, but it’s time to reach an agreement.”
Israel’s announcement is bound to bring urgent new calls for Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring home the remaining hostages. The Israeli leader has taken a tough line in negotiations and repeatedly said that military pressure is needed to bring home the hostages. According to Israeli media, he has feuded with top security officials who have said a deal should be reached urgently.
Hamas has offered to release the hostages in return for an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants.
Going as far back as October – the Gazans proposed a deal to Israel via Egypt and Qatar, to not go into Gaza and they would release all the hostages – Israel refused. For Israel and the Zionist genocidaires this was never about brining back the hosatges
It was about vengeance – it was about “Amalek” Israel proclaimed at the start of their genocide in October – nothing survives in the mythical story of Amalek.
Goldberg-Polin’s parents, U.S.-born immigrants to Israel, became perhaps the most high-profile relatives of hostages on the international stage. They met with Mr. Biden, Pope Francis and others and addressed the United Nations, urging the release of all hostages.
“This is a political convention. But needing our only son — and all of the cherished hostages — home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,” Jon Polin, told the DNC on Aug. 21. His mother, Rachel, who bowed her head during the ovation and touched her chest, said, “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive.”
The Polin family moved to Israel from their original safe and secure homeland of the US when their son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was 7. Had they not made that irresponsible decision he most probably would be alive today.
To date, only eight captives have been rescued by Israeli forces. Most of the captives were freed during a week-long ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians held hostage (in administrative detention) by Israel.
Two previous Israeli operations to free hostages killed scores of Palestinians. Hamas says all the hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and failed rescue attempts. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.
It is not in the interest of Palestinians to kill the Israelis they are holding – it is the only bargaining chips they have in negotiations. On the other hand, it benefits Israel immensely if they were able to eradicate the only bargaining chips the Palestinians have.
About 100 captives still believed to be alive, remain in Gaza – it is a race against time to see if Israel manages to kill them before mediating officials can convince Israel to accept a deal for their release.