Continued Israeli military operation in Gaza puts hostages’ lives at risk, Hamas warns Netanyau
In its statement accompanying the images, the group referenced the case of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who went missing in 1986 after his plane was shot down over southern Lebanon.
Hamas’ military wing has issued a stark warning regarding the fate of hostages in Gaza, publishing “farewell” photographs of most of those still held captive, according to a media report on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
The move comes amid Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza City, which Hamas suggests could put the hostages’ lives at risk.
In its statement accompanying the images, the group referenced the case of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who went missing in 1986 after his plane was shot down over southern Lebanon.
Arad was believed to have been held by Shiite factions and is now presumed dead, his remains never recovered, a situation that has long resonated in Israel as a symbol of the nation’s commitment to recovering lost soldiers.
Of the 251 people captured during the October 2023 Palestinian militant attacks on Israel, 47 remain in Gaza. Israeli authorities report that 25 of these hostages are already dead.
The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed faction, shared 46 photographs on its Telegram channel, each tagged with Arad’s name, framing the hostages’ plight in the context of the historical Israeli missing-person case.
Alongside the images, the Brigades criticized Israeli leadership, specifically Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military chief Eyal Zamir, attributing the risk to what they called governmental obstinacy and compliance.
The escalation follows Israel’s ground offensive launched on Tuesday, following weeks of intense aerial bombardment of Gaza’s largest city.
The attacks have forced hundreds of thousands of residents to flee, while families of the hostages have appealed to the Israeli government to pause operations, expressing fears that the ongoing assault could endanger those still in captivity.
Hamas’ publication of the photographs is a strategic and psychological maneuver, signaling both the danger to hostages and the historical resonance of Arad’s unresolved case in Israeli society.
By drawing this parallel, the group underscores the gravity of the hostages’ situation while amplifying international attention.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian and security crisis in Gaza continues to deepen as the conflict intensifies, highlighting the persistent tension between military objectives and the protection of civilians and captives caught in the crossfire.
AFP reports confirm the ongoing circulation of these images, while the broader conflict between Israel and Hamas remains a flashpoint for regional instability and international concern.
