Israel claims Gaza captives died as conflict escalates. Talks have stalled after 46,000 fatalities. Read about current events and humanitarian issues.
1. Hostage Deaths Confirmed: Hamza and Youssef Ziyadne, two hostages, were found dead in Gaza.
2. Conflict Toll: More than 46,000 dead; humanitarian situation gets worse.
What Did Hamza Ziyadne and His Father Do?
Israel said on Friday that Hamza Ziyadne, the son of hostage Youssef Ziyadne who died, had been killed in Gaza.
Along with armed guards from Hamas or another Palestinian terrorist group, their bodies were found in an underground cave near Rafah.
The Israeli forces finished DNA tests to identify Hamza, an Israeli Bedouin who was taken hostage by fighters led by Hamas along with his father.
How did the hostages die?
They think Hamza and Youssef were killed in one of their attacks because their bodies were found next to those of terrorists who had also been killed.
The military would not say what the exact cause of death was, though. The armed side of Hamas said that most of the prisoners in northern Gaza are now missing after heavy Israeli airstrikes, but the group hasn’t said anything public about the deaths of the Ziyadnes.
What is really going on in Gaza?
Israeli forces are still bombing Gaza. Medics in Bureij camp say seven people were killed in an airstrike outside of a mosque, and three more were killed in separate events in northern Gaza.
Palestinian health officials say that the 15-month war has killed over 46,000 people and caused a lot of damage and serious shortages of food and medicine.
Why have discussions reached a stalemate?
Qatar, the U.S., and Egypt have been trying to broker a peace and free the surviving prisoners, but their efforts have been held up.
Hamas wants the war to end and Israeli troops to leave, but Israel won’t stop its operations until Hamas is broken up and all prisoners are freed.
The Hostages and Missing Family Forum said that the Israeli government should have started talking to the hostages’ families earlier so that Youssef and Hamza could have been saved.
The next thing Israel should do?
Israel Katz, the defense minister, told the military to plan for Hamas’s complete loss if the prisoners are not freed before January 20, the day President-elect Trump takes office.
15 months ago, Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took over 250 prisoners. That’s when Israel started its attack.
What’s going on right now?
How many hostages are still in Gaza?
Hamas is still holding over 100 people hostage.
How many people have died in Gaza?
There have been more than 46,000 deaths of Palestinians.
What does Hamas want?
End the war and pull out the Israeli troops.
What does Israel need in order for peace to happen?
Take Hamas apart and free all the inmates.
What Will Come Next for Israel and Gaza?
As the fighting goes on, the humanitarian situation in Gaza gets worse, and people who have been forced to leave their homes are living in terrible conditions.
In the meantime, Israel is still set on its armed goals, which doesn’t leave much room for flexibility. The whole world is paying close attention as officials try to break the stalemate before Trump’s inauguration.