Israel PM “Understand” on the case of three hostages of Gaza

The Israeli Prime Minister said that there is “uncertainty” about the case of three of 24 hostages that are previously believed to be alive in the families of Hamas in Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he knows “certainty” that 21 hostages were alive, but the situation of “three others” was not clear.

His comments came after US President Donald Trump said that 24 hostages were alive a week ago, but the number was now 21 years. He made comments while speaking at an event at the White House on Tuesday and he did not cite a source or provided more details.

The hostage and families forum demanded information.

The forum also urged Netanyahu to stop its plans to expand the Israeli attack in Gaza and instead agree on a deal with Hamas to return 59 hostages to live and dead.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister called “stopping the war until the return of the last mixing,” adding: “This is the most urgent and important national task.”

Speaking in a video clip on Wednesday after Trump’s comments, Netanyahu said: “We know with certainty that 21 hostages are alive. There are three others regarding those who are not certain about whether they are alive.”

Last week, Netanyahu said that saving the hostages was a “very important goal” of the war, but “the highest goal is to achieve victory over our enemies.”

The Israeli military spokesman, Brej Jin Evi Defirin, appeared to contradict the Prime Minister on Monday when he stated: “The goal of the operation is to return our hostages, and the exciting defeat of the dismantling and decisive of the Hamas regime.”

Despite this statement, Haritz newspaper in Israel reported that the Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Ayal Zamir, presented operational orders to the leaders this week.With the “defeat of Hamas” at the top.

Israeli officials said that the plans of the expanded attack include the seizure of all lands indefinitely, which led to the force of the Palestinians by force to the south, and the distribution of aid with private companies despite the protests from the United Nations and its humanitarian partners.

About 1,200 people were killed and 251 others took hostages during the Hamas -led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza war.

Four other people, two of whom were killed, were already detained in Gaza before the conflict.

So far, Israel has obtained the return of 196 hostages, 147 of them alive, most of them through two temporary ceasefire deals with Hamas.

At least 52,653 people were killed in Gaza during the war, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health in the region.

More than 2500 died since Israel ended the ceasefire for two months on March 18 and resumed his attack, saying it wanted to pressure Hamas to release the hostages.

Israel has also prevented all deliveries from humanitarian aid and other supplies for a period of nine weeks, which the United Nations says has caused a severe shortage of food, medicine and fuel.