Hamas Releases “Parting Image” of Israeli Hostages as IDF Prepares Gaza City Offensive
By Andrew Haruna | The Bureau News
In a chilling escalation, Hamas on Saturday released what it ominously described as a “parting image” of the remaining 48 Israelis still held captive in Gaza, just as Israeli ground forces prepared to advance into Gaza City, considered Hamas’ last stronghold.
The propaganda image displayed the faces of the captives with the name Ron Arad — the Israeli air force pilot who went missing during a 1986 mission over Lebanon and was never found — inscribed under each one.
Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting a last-minute ceasefire and hostage deal, while blaming IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir for carrying out the military takeover of Gaza City despite reportedly opposing it.
“Because of Netanyahu’s refusal, and Zamir’s capitulation, a parting image as the military operation in Gaza City begins,” Hamas declared in the text above the image.
Heavy Bombardment of Gaza City
The Israeli Air Force intensified overnight strikes on Gaza, hitting 100 targets, including tunnels, buildings, and alleged Hamas command centers. Military officials estimate at least 20 tower blocks in Gaza City have been destroyed in the last two weeks.
The IDF warned residents that it would deploy “unprecedented force” in the coming days and renewed calls for civilians to flee. According to Israeli intelligence, 480,000 Gaza City residents have fled since late August, with the population having been about 1 million before the offensive.
The IDF further claimed that several Hamas operatives, including field commanders, were killed in the overnight bombardment.
Hamas Threatens Hostages’ Fate
As Israeli troops encircle Gaza City, Hamas issued its strongest warning yet, stating that Israel had forfeited any chance of securing the return of hostages — dead or alive.
Hamas political official Bassem Naim, speaking on Qatari television, vowed fierce resistance:
“The operation in Gaza City will be met with fierce resistance, and the death and destruction that the enemy tries to bring to Gaza’s streets will befall its soldiers. Those who harm us during the operation in Gaza City will also harm the hostages, living and dead.”
Protests in Israel
Meanwhile, mass protests erupted across Israel Saturday night, with families of hostages accusing Netanyahu of sacrificing their loved ones for political survival.
“The blood of our loved ones is, for him, nothing more than a political tool to cling to power. As long as there is war, Netanyahu has a government,” families said in a statement outside the prime minister’s Jerusalem residence.
Context
Gaza City remains the epicenter of the conflict. With Hamas facing mounting losses and Israel determined to crush its final stronghold, the fate of the captives hangs in the balance.
This crisis underscores the severe humanitarian toll of the war, with hundreds of thousands displaced and the specter of hostages’ deaths further deepening divisions inside Israel.
For continuous updates on the Israel–Gaza war and verified political news, follow The Bureau News.
