Hamas's Unexpected Release of Hostages Amid Mounting Aid Delays and Impending Incursion Raises Alarming Questions
Hamas frees two hostages amidst concerns of delayed aid and potential Israeli incursion into Gaza, where worsening humanitarian conditions have left nearly 200 others in a precarious situation Aid trucks remain stranded at the border
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The release signified the culmination of a harrowing ordeal for their family. The nightmare originated on October 7th, when members of Hamas initiated the most devastating assault on Jews since the Holocaust. This attack resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals and the abduction of numerous others, who were subsequently taken to Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is under Hamas control, the retaliatory strikes by Israel have thus far claimed the lives of at least 4,127 people. This includes a significant number of women and children, despite Israel's insistence that their targets are solely affiliated with Hamas.
"There are families all over in Gaza and in Israel that are experiencing a loss that I cant even imagine," he said.
American mother and daughter, who were held captive by Hamas, have been freed amidst the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a solemn gathering in Tel Aviv on Friday, numerous Israeli families participated in a ceremony where a Shabbat dinner table was arranged with 200 vacant seats symbolizing the hostages. Shabbat, a sacred day of repose and introspection observed weekly, is typically a time when Jewish families convene for meals and religious rites.
"I hope that individuals will remember that this remains one of the most significant terrorist groups globally. It is crucial that we do not overlook this fact," he emphasized.
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Israeli officials have refrained from disclosing specific information about their strategies, but have made it clear that their objective is to eradicate Hamas along with its infrastructure, which mainly encompasses extensively fortified underground tunnels situated within densely populated urban areas.
Rami Igra, the former Division Chief of the Hostages and MIA Unit at Mossad (Israel's intelligence service), stated, "Hamas is currently facing immense pressure and is resorting to various tactics in an attempt to hinder Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip. Moreover, they are likely to employ numerous additional methods as the situation progresses."
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It added that about 1.4 million people had been displaced in Gaza - more than 60% of the entire strips population of 2 million.
Egyptian Red Crescent members coordinate aid for Gaza, as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media, at El-Arish Airport in Egypt on October 20.
Civil defense teams and residents continue search and rescue efforts at a Greek Orthodox church after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 20.
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The funeral of Ofir Libstein, the former head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council who tragically lost his life during the Kibbutz Kfar Aza attack, was held in Even Yehuda, Israel, on Wednesday, October 18. Friends and relatives gathered to mourn their beloved friend and family member.
A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18.
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People mourn a family during a funeral in Hod HaSharon, Israel, on October 18.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials join US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the left as they wait for the commencement of the Israeli war cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv on October 18.
Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City was captured in a view displaying the aftermath of a devastating explosion on October 18. Palestinian authorities held the ongoing Israeli airstrikes accountable for the incident, whereas a representative from the Israel Defense Forces attributed the incident to a "failed rocket launch" executed by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.
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Bodies of Palestinians killed in the blast at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital lie in front of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 17.
Israeli security forces inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket fired from Gaza in Sderot, Israel on October 17.
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During a funeral in Gan-Yavne, Israel on October 17, individuals solemnly placed wreaths to honor the Israeli Kutz family. Tragically, the family of five was brutally killed in their residence by Palestinian militants who had unlawfully entered the Israeli Kibbutz of Kfar Aza last week.
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Street vendors work on a darkened street without power in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 16.
Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza on October 16.
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Israeli army soldiers patrol at an undisclosed position in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on October 15.
People carry children as they flee following an Israeli strike on Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday, October 15.
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Leaflets dropped from Israeli army planes fall over Gaza City on Friday, October 13.
An Israeli soldier looks inside a house that was overrun by Hamas militants in Be'eri, Israel, on October 13.
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Hatem Ali/AP
Israelis take cover after hearing warning sirens of incoming rockets fired from Gaza in Rehovot, Israel, on October 13.
A Palestinian child is injured during bombing in Gaza on October 13.
Palestinians flee from northern Gaza to the south after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning to seek refuge in the south, on October 13.
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Valentin Ghnassia's loved ones mourned his loss during a funeral service held at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on October 12. Ghnassia tragically lost his life in a brave altercation against Hamas militants in Be'eri, Israel.
An Israeli soldier patrols near the Nova music festival grounds near Be'eri, Israel, on October 12.
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Palestinians seek shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, after a house next door was hit by an Israeli airstrike on October 12.
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A Palestinian woman covered in dust and dirt carries a child in Gaza City on October 12.
An Israeli soldier walks by a house destroyed by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Be'eri on Wednesday, October 11.
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Palestinians run from Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.
Israeli soldiers load donated food into the back of a military vehicle in Sderot, Israel, on October 11.
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Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on the seaport of Gaza City on Tuesday, October 10.
Israeli soldiers are seen carrying a body in Kfar Aza, a village located near the border of Gaza, on October 10. The Israel Defense Forces informed CNN that Hamas militants were responsible for a "massacre" that took place in Kfar Aza during their recent attacks. This photograph was taken by Sergey Ponomarev of The New York Times.
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Israeli soldiers take position in Kfar Aza near the border with Gaza on October 10.
Stranded travelers wait to be booked on a flight at Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv on October 10.
Palestinians walk amid the rubble following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10.
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Israelis mourn as they attend the funeral of Israel Defense Forces soldier Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg at Mount Herzel Cemetery in Jerusalem, on October 10.
A Palestinian man reacts as he carries the body of his cousin who was pulled from the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Monday, October 9.
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Children run for cover as bombs fall near the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 9.
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The ruins of the Yassin mosque are seen in the Shati refugee camp just outside Gaza City on October 9.
Friends and relatives of Ilai Bar Sade mourn next to his grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 9.
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Israeli security and emergency officials respond after a rocket landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the occupied West Bank, on October 9.
Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9.
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Palestinians inspect damage from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City's Shati refugee camp on October 9.
An injured Palestinian child is pictured in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza on October 9.
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Erik Marmor/AP
Fire and smoke rise from Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike on October 8.
Palestinians inspect a mosque destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 8.
An Israeli soldier prays standing in front of a tank on the outskirts of the northern town of Kiryat Shmona on October 8.
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Palestinians search the rubble of a home in Khan Younis that was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on October 8.
Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 8.
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Palestinian children look toward the sky at the sound of airstrikes at a United Nations-run school in Gaza on Saturday, October 7.
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
Palestinians gather around an Israeli army vehicle that Palestinian militants drove from Israel into Gaza on October 7.
Palestinians break into the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, after gunmen infiltrated parts of southern Israel on October 7.
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Children are seen in a damaged house in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes on October 7.
Vehicles in Ashkelon burn as rockets are launched from Gaza on October 7.
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Amir Cohen/Reuters
Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux
Relatives of Palestinians killed on Saturday, October 7, mourn at the morgue of a hospital in Gaza.
An Israeli soldier stands by the bodies of Israelis killed by Palestinian militants in Sderot on October 7.
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Amir Cohen/Reuters
Smoke rises as the clashes between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces continue on the streets of Beit Hanun in Gaza on October 7.
Rockets are fired toward Israel from Gaza on October 7.
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According to the UN, there are 219 trucks of humanitarian aid stacked up on the Egyptian side of the border at Rafah crossing. US President Joe Biden, who initially announced the aid agreement following his meeting with the Egyptian leader, stated on Friday that the aid trucks should be able to enter Gaza within the next 24 to 48 hours. However, he mentioned that the roads near the crossing, which were damaged by Israeli airstrikes, need to be repaired before the crossing can be reopened.
Tamara Alrifai, the director of communications for the UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees, reiterated the importance of a consistent and ongoing supply of aid. She emphasized that the situation requires more than just a one-time delivery of relief, such as sending 20 trucks, and then ceasing support. Please note that this is a developing news story and updates will be provided regularly.
This report has been contributed to by a team of CNN journalists including Rhea Mogul, Christian Edwards, Alex Marquardt, Kaitlan Collins, Oren Liebermann, Michael Conte, Sana Noor Haq, Eva Rothenberg, Natasha Bertrand, Katie Bo Lillis, Kareem El Damanhoury, Donald Judd, Mariya Knight, and Tamar Michaelis.
