A third of the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza have died, or 43 out of 120. The estimate is contained in a count carried out by the Israeli government which was reported by international media reported by the Jerusalem Post. The data – it was explained – is based on various sources, including intelligence information, closed circuit cameras or videos and forensic analysis. The release of the 120 hostages, including the bodies of the 43 estimated dead, is part of the agreement between Hamas and Israel, relaunched by President Biden. On October 7, about 250 people were kidnapped from the kibbutzim, some were released in November. Hamas, which early in the war threatened to execute hostages in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes, later claimed that Israeli raids caused the hostages' deaths. Israel has not ruled out this happening but said some recovered hostage bodies showed signs of execution.
US draft resolution at UN to support peace plan
The United States has announced a draft resolution in the Security Council in support of the Middle East ceasefire plan outlined by Joe Biden last week, urging Hamas to accept it.
“Numerous leaders and governments, including in the region, have endorsed this plan,” said US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
The draft text, seen by AFP, “welcomes the new agreement announced on May 31, and calls on Hamas to fully accept it and implement its terms without delay and without conditions.”
Biden outlined a three-phase Israeli plan on Friday that would end the bloody conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power.
However, rifts between the two allies emerged when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stressed that the ongoing war in Gaza will continue until all of Israel's “goals are achieved,” including the destruction of military and government capabilities. of Hamas.(