Hamas says a female hostage has been killed during Israeli operations in northern Gaza.
The woman’s identity has not been released, and it is unclear how or when she died.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was currently unable to “confirm or deny” the claim, but its representatives were in contact with the woman’s family.
“This evening, the terrorist organization Hamas released a document that purportedly shows the death of a female hostage,” the IDF said in a statement. We are unable to confirm or deny this.”
Hamas claimed that contact with the woman’s captors was only recently restored after several weeks, leading to her death.
Another female hostage with whom the woman was being held was injured and her life was in danger, said Abu Obaidah, a spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades.
Israeli officials believe there are about 60 hostages alive in Gaza – and the bodies of dozens more believed to be dead.
The news came as Israel stepped up its operations in Gaza on Saturday.
According to the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-controlled area, about 120 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the area during the past 48 hours.
On October 7, 2023, Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
About 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 injured in Gaza since then, according to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-controlled territory.
