Israel’s navy says it has found misery indicators in a Gaza constructing the place three Israeli captives have been sheltering earlier than they have been mistakenly shot dead by Israeli troops.
The indicators, which learn “SOS” and “Help, three hostages” in Hebrew, have been present in a constructing within the Shujayea suburb of Gaza Metropolis, navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari mentioned on Sunday.
The navy distributed pictures of the white fabric indicators written in crimson, seemingly with leftover meals. They have been held on a constructing about 200 metres (220 yards) from the place the captives have been shot final week, Hagari mentioned.
The killing of the captives, who, Israel’s navy mentioned, have been fired at regardless of waving a white flag, has sparked an outcry in Israel and amplified considerations about their navy’s wartime conduct.
Ido Shamriz, brother of slain captive Alon Shamriz, accused the Israeli military of “abandoning” after which “murdering” him.
Ruby Chen, father of a 19-year-old captive and soldier nonetheless held in Gaza, mentioned the incident made him much more scared of his son’s destiny.
“We feel like we’re in a Russian roulette game [finding out] who will be next in line to be told the death of their loved one,” Chen mentioned.
The captives’ deaths additionally added to Israeli considerations that their authorities and navy are extra targeted on eliminating Hamas than rescuing at the least 100 captives believed nonetheless to be in captivity in Gaza.
Hamas final month mentioned about 60 captives had been killed or have been lacking because of the Israeli bombardment. Israel has confirmed at the least 20 captives have died in Gaza, with out saying the way it is aware of this info.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that new negotiations could also be beneath technique to get well captives after his intelligence chief met the prime minister of Qatar, a mediator within the battle.
Nonetheless, Hamas has mentioned it is not going to launch any extra captives till the warfare ends.
The place are the captives?
Israel believes a few of the captives could also be trapped in Hamas’s sprawling underground tunnel community, complicating the Israeli navy’s efforts to root out the group.
On Sunday, Israel’s navy introduced it had uncovered the biggest tunnel it had ever seen in Gaza and promised to look by extra tunnels in its pursuit of Hamas.
“We will hunt them even if we need to go down to the tunnels,” Hagari mentioned. “We also need to do it with attention to the rescue of our hostages and the understanding that maybe some of them are in the tunnels.”
The newly found Hamas tunnel has an entrance close to a key Israeli border crossing, elevating extra questions on safety failures main as much as the group’s October 7 assaults on southern Israel.
The expansive tunnel, geared up with air flow and electrical energy, is twice the peak and 3 times the width of different Gaza tunnels, Israeli officers mentioned. It stretches for greater than 4km (2.5 miles) and dives 50 meters (55 yards) under floor at some factors.
“Millions of dollars were invested in this tunnel,” Hagari mentioned on Sunday.
“It took years to build. … Vehicles could drive through,” he added. “At this point, this is the biggest tunnel in Gaza.”
Nir Dinar, one other Israeli navy spokesperson, mentioned Israel had beforehand failed to identify the tunnel as a result of its border defences detect solely tunnels meant to enter Israel.
Israeli officers believed Hamas used the tunnel to maneuver autos, fighters and provides forward of its October 7 assaults, which killed about 1,200 individuals, they are saying.
In retaliation for that assault, Israel has bombed the besieged Gaza Strip for 2 and a half months and launched a floor invasion, killing greater than 19,000 Palestinians, largely girls and kids, and lowering a lot of the enclave to ruins.
