Hostages held by Hamas face a potential permanent disappearance
The Israeli ground offensive in the city of Gaza, which began on Tuesday night, has escalated tensions as reports of a hostage crisis unfold. Among the hostages are German citizens, and their relatives fear for their lives due to potential use as human shields by Hamas.
Hamas had previously warned that none of the abducted would ever return to Israel with the start of the Israeli offensive in the city. The group has published a photo montage of 47 hostages, all named 'Ron Arad.' However, it's important to note that Ron Arad is an Israeli soldier who crashed in a combat aircraft in Lebanon in 1986 and has been held captive since.
The photo montage is accompanied by a warning in Arabic and Hebrew, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of refusing an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages at the start of Operation Gaza. The text also accuses Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir of ordering the conquest of the city of Gaza despite reports that he was against it.
Eyal Zamir, known as a hardliner, reportedly overruled legal and humanitarian concerns in planning the Gaza offensive, despite warnings against the attack on Gaza City. He is alleged to have given the order to attack Gaza City even against advisements and was known for pushing a harsher military strategy under Netanyahu's government.
Despite decades of intense efforts, Israel has never succeeded in freeing Ron Arad. The Israeli army has a code that provides that soldiers 'shall not be left behind' - neither alive nor dead. This promise is intended to strengthen the morale of the troops and is also a promise to the families of the soldiers.
Hamas took the hostages out of tunnels and distributed them among several quarters of the city of Gaza to deter the Israeli army from attacks. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still live in the city of Gaza.
A dignified burial is of great importance to Israelis for religious, human, and social reasons, especially for fallen soldiers. As the situation in Gaza City continues to unfold, the international community is closely monitoring the developments and calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
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