The leaflets, dropped by Israeli aircraft, enjoined Gazans to share verified and valuable information about the hostages in exchange for a financial reward and security assurance. The leaflets were written in Arabic and issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
"If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area," the leaflets read.
"The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality."
The safety of the hostages taken by Hamas remains a concern for the Israelis, who have so far delayed a potential ground invasion. In addition to Israeli civilians and soldiers, nationals from various countries including Mexico, Brazil, the U.S., Germany and Thailand are also included. They have been scattered in groups inside tunnels snaking across the Gaza Strip.
Washington is working alongside Jerusalem to delay an impending ground offensive, alongside the release of more hostages and the delivery of much-needed aid to Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden has called on Hamas to release its hostages as a prerequisite for ceasefire negotiations. Nevertheless, a senior Israeli official stressed that there will be no ceasefire.
Hamas releasing hostages in a staggered manner
More than a quarter of the Nir Oz kibbutz (community) are dead or remain missing after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,400. In response, Israel assaulted Gaza as retaliation – killing more than 5,000.
The terrorist group released two elderly women on Oct. 23, after it earlier set free two hostages on humanitarian grounds. The move brings the number of freed hostages to four. Nevertheless, negotiations to release other hostages are still ongoing. (Related: Hamas FREES 2 American hostages on HUMANITARIAN grounds.)
However, these discussions are complicated by several factors, including Israel's commitment to dismantling Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 attack; its blockade of Gaza affecting access to essential resources; and sustained airstrikes on key targets.
Yocheved Lifshitz, a frail 85-year-old grandmother and one of the two captives released on Oct. 23, described her ordeal as hellish. "I went through hell," she said, adding she was forced to walk on wet ground and descended into an underground tunnel system she likened to a spiderweb.
But Lifshitz later said their captors treated them well, sleeping on mattresses on the floor of the tunnels and eating the same food as the Hamas operatives who abducted them. Her story confirms the existence of an elaborate underground tunnel system that makes rescue operations difficult.
Ken Grey, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent and current criminal justice professor at the University of New Haven, emphasized the intelligence significance of Lipshitz's statements in an interview.
He explained that Lipshitz's remarks indicate a deliberate process of separating the hostages, which could make any potential rescue operation by the IDF more challenging. While it may not have been the original intent, this separation logistics issue could create difficulties in a rescue scenario, as hostages are scattered in different locations.
Grey also noted that Hamas might be using Lipshitz's comments as part of a strategy to project an image of humane treatment of the hostages. By doing so, they aim to portray themselves as treating the hostages well, potentially making the IDF's entry into Gaza appear more aggressive and less humane during an anticipated ground operation.
Visit Chaos.news for more stories about the hostage situation following Hamas' attack on Israel.
Watch this video about Hamas setting two more hostages free, including Lifshitz.
This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Israeli military confirms Hamas has at least 155 hostages hidden in Gaza.
Israeli military gets "green light" to enter Gaza and begin ground offensive.
Israel refusing to allow HUMANITARIAN AID to reach the 2 million civilians trapped in Gaza.
Hostages held by Hamas in Gaza will be almost impossible to rescue, warns counterterrorism expert.
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