Israel says its forces have freed a hostage held captive by Hamas in Gaza

Israel says its forces have freed a soldier from Hamas captivity during the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli soldier Ori Megidish, wearing a white Marvel T-shirt, stands in the middle of four relatives, with their arms around each other.

Ori Megidish (centre) was kidnapped by Hamas gunmen who rampaged through Israel on 7 October. Source: AP / HO

Israel said on Monday that its military had freed a soldier from Hamas captivity during its .

The soldier, identified as Ori Megidish, was kidnapped by Hamas gunmen who rampaged through southern Israeli communities on 7 October.
She has since undergone medical checks and is "doing well," the military said.
It comes as Hamas released a video that shows three of the hostages seized by the militant group on 7 October.

The video shows three women — identified by as Yelena Trupanob, Danielle Aloni and Rimon Kirsht — sitting side by side against a bare wall, with Aloni addressing an angry message to the prime minister.

Accusing Netanyahu of failing to protect Israeli citizens during and failing to get them back home, she called for an agreement to secure their release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

"You were supposed to free all of us. You committed to free us all. But instead we are carrying your political, security, military, diplomatic failure," she said.
Two women looking at a phone screen. They are visibly distraught.
Hostage relative Shani Segal (left) is comforted by Dafna Sella as they watch a video, recently released by Hamas, of Segal's cousin Rimon Kirsht. Source: EPA / Erik S. Lesser
The short video is the second hostage message issued by Hamas, following an earlier clip of that was released on 17 October.

Israel says that more than 200 hostages are being held by Hamas, and Netanyahu said that the ground campaign in Gaza creates the possibility for their rescue.

"Hamas will not do it unless they are under pressure," he told reporters.

"We obviously greeted one hostage with open arms after yesterday's successful action ... but . We think that this method stands a chance."
It comes after Israeli troops and tanks attacked Gaza's main northern city from both sides.

Israel's military said it had struck more than 600 militant targets over the past few days as it expanded ground operations in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian civilians are in dire need of fuel, food and clean water as the war enters its fourth week.

The militants said they had repelled an attempted push from Israel tanks into Gaza City from the east and were fighting them on the border with Israel.

"Our duty today is fight and fight," the Islamic Jihad militant group, fighting alongside Hamas, said in a statement, adding that now was not the time for a truce.

The Israeli military said it had killed four prominent Hamas operatives.
Israel renewed warnings for civilians to move from the north of the tiny coastal enclave to the south as it began a big push into Gaza late on Friday to go after .

Many people have stayed in the city, afraid of becoming homeless like their forefathers and concerned by Israeli bombing further south.

On Monday, residents said Israeli forces carried out dozens of airstrikes on the city's eastern side, with some reporting the roar of tanks rolling in amid exchanges of fire.

Palestinian health officials said airstrikes had hit near three large hospitals in Gaza City on Monday.
Injured people at a Gaza hospital
People arriving for treatment at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza after Israeli bombardment on 24 October. Source: Getty / Mahmud Hams
The United Nations humanitarian office OCHA said 117,000 civilians are sheltering alongside patients and doctors in hospitals in the north.

Israel has accused Hamas of placing command centres and weaponry near hospitals, which the group denies.

Airstrikes could also be heard in the southern towns of Rafah near , as well as east of Khan Younis, where Palestinian media said Hamas clashed with Israeli troops.

Israel has said 1,400 people were killed when Hamas-led militants stormed through the south of the country on 7 October and took 229 hostage.

Hamas has released four so far and said 50 have been killed in retaliatory strikes.

Medical authorities in Hamas-run Gaza, which has a population of 2.3 million people, said on Monday that 8,306 people — including 3,457 minors — had been killed.

OCHA said rescuers were struggling to reach people.

"As of 29 October, about 1,800 people, including at least 940 children, have been reported missing and may be trapped or dead under the rubble, awaiting rescue or recovery," it said.

The UN agency also said that armed groups continued firing rockets at Israel indiscriminately, with no fatalities reported.
A woman sitting in front of a sign with a photo of her daughter
Ricarda Louk sits in front of a placard of her daughter Shani Louk who was abducted by Hamas militants during the 7 October attack into southern Israel. Source: AP / Maya Alleruzzo
The Israeli government said a German-Israeli woman who was seized by Hamas from a music festival on 7 October and paraded around Gaza is dead.

"I am really sorry to report that we have now received news that Shani Nicole Louk has been confirmed murdered and dead," Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Germany's Bild newspaper.

"What we saw on the Gaza-Israel border goes far beyond a pogrom. We saw a slaughterhouse."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Hamas had to be held accountable for the death of Louk, 23.

"For me, this news is terrible," Scholz said.

"This shows all the barbarism that lies behind Hamas."
, gaining power in the Gaza Strip since winning legislative elections there in 2006.

Hamas's stated aim is to establish a Palestinian state, while refusing to recognise Israel’s right to exist.

Hamas, in its entirety, is designated as a terrorist organisation by countries including Australia, Canada, the UK and the US.

Some countries list only its military wing as a terrorist group.

The UN has not condemned Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organisation, due to insufficient support from member states to do so during a 2018 vote.

Share
6 min read
Published 31 October 2023 6:23am
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends