Military leader in Israel issues threat of relentless fighting unless captives are released
In the ongoing 22-month conflict between Israel and Gaza, a hostage crisis has emerged as a significant point of contention. According to reports, of the 251 people kidnapped from Israel during Hamas's attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, with 27 of them tragically losing their lives.
As of late July 2025, hostage negotiations between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza remain unresolved, and a ceasefire has yet to be achieved. International efforts, including those by the United Nations and countries like France and Saudi Arabia, emphasize the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid. These efforts are framed within a broader push for implementing a two-state solution as the only sustainable path to peace and security.
Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israel's top general, has warned that combat in Gaza will continue without rest if negotiations for the release of hostages fail. He made these remarks to officers inside Gaza on Friday. Zamir denies allegations of intentional starvation in Gaza, calling them a deliberate, timed, and deceitful attempt to accuse the IDF of war crimes.
On the other hand, Hamas is accused by Zamir of being responsible for the killing and suffering of the residents in Gaza. Aid agencies have warned that Gaza's population is facing a catastrophic famine, caused by Israeli restrictions on aid.
The breakdown of negotiations to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages was reported last month. Negotiations, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, broke down, leading to growing pressure, both internationally and domestically, to resume efforts to secure a ceasefire.
In a concerning development, Palestinian armed groups have released two videos of hostages looking emaciated and weak. Some in Israel have called for tougher military action in response to the breakdown of negotiations.
The conflict has claimed the lives of 898 Israeli soldiers since ground troops were sent into Gaza. According to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, the Israel campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, since October 2023. In 2023, Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians.
As the conflict enters its 22nd month, the international community is urging both sides to reconsider their positions and work towards a peaceful resolution, prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of all those affected by the ongoing hostilities.
- The ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza, a significant point of contention in the 22-month conflict between Israel and Gaza, is yet to be resolved, as negotiations between Israel and Palestinian groups remain unresolved.
- The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, framed within general-news and war-and-conflicts, has also become a focus of crime-and-justice news, as Palestinian armed groups have released videos of emaciated hostages, increasing pressure for tougher military action.
- Despite international efforts, including those by the United Nations, France, and Saudi Arabia, to implement a lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid, the two-state solution remains the only sustainable path to peace and security, according to these efforts.
- The conflict, which has claimed the lives of 898 Israeli soldiers and at least 60,332 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, is causing a catastrophic famine in Gaza, according to aid agencies, with Hamas being accused by Israel's top general of being responsible for the killing and suffering of Gaza's residents.
- As the international community urges both sides to reconsider their positions and work towards a peaceful resolution, prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of all those affected by the ongoing hostilities, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israel's top general, warns that combat in Gaza will continue without rest if negotiations for the release of hostages fail, while denying allegations of intentional starvation in Gaza.
