By Abdeljabar Abu Ras
GAZA, Palestine (AA) - Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV announced Saturday the injury of a "significant number" of Israelis held hostage by Hamas due to the ongoing shelling in Gaza.
On Saturday, Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV announced the injury of a "significant number" of Israeli captives within the Hamas movement due to the ongoing shelling in Gaza. It pointed out that their lives are at risk as a result of these attacks.
Earlier today, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, reported the death of nine captives in Israeli airstrikes targeting their location in Gaza over the past 24 hours.
In a concise statement, Al-Qassam Bridages said that four of the captives who lost their lives were foreigners. The total number of Israeli captives killed since the start of the fresh fighting rose to 27.
The conflict began last Saturday when the Palestinian resistance group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
During this operation, Hamas and armed members from other Palestinian factions reportedly "captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers and officers" during an extensive infiltration operation into settlements near Gaza, according to the statements made by the movement.
The exact number of Israeli captives in Gaza is currently unknown.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
Over 3,600 people have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, including 2,215 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala