Israel’s army says it has found misery indicators in a Gaza constructing the place three Israeli captives had been sheltering earlier than they had been mistakenly shot dead by Israeli troops.
The indicators, which learn “SOS” and “Assist, three hostages” in Hebrew, had been present in a constructing within the Shujayea suburb of Gaza Metropolis, army spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated on Sunday.
The army distributed images of the white fabric indicators written in crimson, possible with leftover meals. They had been held on a constructing about 200 metres (220 yards) from the place the captives had been shot final week, Hagari stated.
The killing of the captives, who, Israel’s army stated, had been fired at regardless of waving a white flag, has sparked an outcry in Israel and amplified issues about their army’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, stated the incident made him much more frightened of his son’s destiny.
“We really feel like we’re in a Russian roulette recreation [finding out] who can be subsequent in line to be instructed the loss of life of their liked one,” Chen stated.
The captives’ deaths additionally added to Israeli issues that their authorities and army are extra centered on eliminating Hamas than rescuing a minimum of 100 captives believed nonetheless to be in captivity in Gaza.
Hamas final month stated about 60 captives had been killed or had been lacking as a result of Israeli bombardment. Israel has confirmed a minimum of 20 captives have died in Gaza, with out saying the way it is aware of this data.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that new negotiations could also be below technique to get better captives after his intelligence chief met the prime minister of Qatar, a mediator within the battle.
Nevertheless, Hamas has stated it is not going to launch any extra captives till the warfare ends.
The place are the captives?
Israel believes among the captives could also be trapped in Hamas’s sprawling underground tunnel community, complicating the Israeli army’s efforts to root out the group.
On Sunday, Israel’s army introduced it had uncovered the biggest tunnel it had ever seen in Gaza and promised to go looking by extra tunnels in its pursuit of Hamas.
“We are going to hunt them even when we have to go right down to the tunnels,” Hagari stated. “We additionally must do it with consideration to the rescue of our hostages and the understanding that possibly a few of them are within the tunnels.”
The newly found Hamas tunnel has an entrance close to a key Israeli border crossing, elevating further questions on safety failures main as much as the group’s October 7 assaults on southern Israel.
![In this picture taken during a media tour organised by the Israeli military on December 15, 2023, soldiers visit a tunnel that Hamas reportedly used to attack Israel through the Erez border crossing on October 7. - The Israeli army said on December 17, 2023 it had uncovered the biggest Hamas tunnel in the Gaza Strip so far, just a few hundred metres from the Erez border crossing. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/347Z6AT-highres-1702892944.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
The expansive tunnel, geared up with air flow and electrical energy, is twice the peak and thrice the width of different Gaza tunnels, Israeli officers stated. It stretches for greater than 4km (2.5 miles) and dives 50 meters (55 yards) beneath floor at some factors.
“Hundreds of thousands of {dollars} had been invested on this tunnel,” Hagari stated on Sunday.
“It took years to construct. … Autos may drive by,” he added. “At this level, that is the largest tunnel in Gaza.”
Nir Dinar, one other Israeli army spokesperson, stated 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 folks, 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 ladies and kids, and decreasing a lot of the enclave to ruins.