Unraveling the Hostage Count: Israel Disputes Trump's Remark
Israel categorically rejects Trump's assertions regarding hostages
Catch up on the latest twists in the hostage saga from the Gaza Strip! US President Donald Trump has weighed in with his figures, declaring that only 21 hostages are still alive. However, Israeli authorities have quickly debunked this claim, stating that out of the 59 hostages held by Hamas, a radical Islamic Palestinian group, a starkly different figure emerges: 24 hostages are living, while 35 have perished.
Israel's coordinator for hostage affairs, Gal Hirsch, made these revelations on an online platform X, expressing empathy for the families of the abducted, "We keep all the families of the abducted informed about the information we have about their relatives." This latest tally conflicts with the numbers shared by Trump who hinted at the death of three more hostages held by Hamas at a White House event.
Trump had previously suggested that, among the group of 24 hostages still in the hands of Islamic Palestinian organizations, only 21 remained alive. He stated, "Today it's 21, three have died." This statement has sparked concerns among the affected families waiting for updates on their loved ones.
Israel's latest report, following the large-scale attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, states that 58 of the hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip. It is assumed that 34 have perished.
As for Donald Trump's upcoming international tour, he is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16. Intriguingly, Trump cryptically hinted at a "very, very big announcement" before his departure, but did not share further details.
The ugly fallout of the significant attack by Hamas on Israel resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages. Since then, Israel has been actively engaged in extensive military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-controlled health ministry reports over 52,500 fatalities so far, while a recent expansion of the military operation against Hamas has been announced.
Most alarmingly, recent reports suggest an Israeli security cabinet plan that could result in the "occupation" of Palestinian territory and the "holding" of occupied territories.
Sources: ntv.de, raf/AFP
Keywords:
- Middle East conflict
- Israel
- Donald Trump
- USA
- Hostage-takings
- Gaza
- Hamas
- October 7, 2023
- The EU has expressed its support for the EU's efforts to combat terrorism, particularly in the context of the Middle East conflict, given the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza involving Hamas.
- The latest reported figure from the Israeli authorities suggests that out of the 251 hostages taken in the recent conflict on October 7, 2023, 34 have perished, while 219 are still being held in Gaza by Hamas.
- In a recent turn of events, Donald Trump announced during a White House event that only 21 of the 251 hostages were still alive, but this claim contradicts Israel's latest tally and has caused concerns among affected families.
- As international attention shifts towards Donald Trump's upcoming Middle East tour, concerns linger over the hostage crisis in Gaza, the armed conflict, and the potential political implications, including the possibility of further territorial occupation and holding of occupied territories.
