The IDF released the numbers of captives being held hostage in Gaza today (Thursday). According to its findings, there are some 200 hostages in the Strip on whom they have information.
According to the IDF, most of them are alive, but there are bodies taken into the Strip, as well. Moreover, the number of children and youth taken to Gaza stands at a few dozen (less than 30). They have also learned that there are still 100-200 people missing whose whereabouts are unknown. There are also between 10 and 20 elderly Israelis being held hostage. The IDF also explained that the overwhelming majority is being held by Hamas while a few are being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Earlier, Nitzan Alon, the head of the intelligence forum for locating captives and missing, addressed the complex issue. “We see before us at all times the faces of the families, the women, the children, the elderly, our people, and our soldiers. This effort is complex, difficult, and challenging, it includes intelligence and operational challenges, we are gathering every piece of information and are cooperating with the families, the settlements, and the communities.”
According to Alon: “Together with me are many hundreds of the best people of special operations and the entire intelligence community and the defense establishment. Everyone is working day and night and we have the best operational and technological capabilities at our disposal. Our focus is on bringing about the return of our people, this is a very important mission.”
He ended by saying “My heart is with the families, the captives. My whole soul and mind is in this work, along with hundreds of people. We will not stop for a moment, until we find any way to bring back those dear to us.”
