Israeli forces pounded targets in the south, north and centre of the Gaza Strip on Monday ahead of an expected Hamas announcement on the fate of three Israeli hostages shown on video over the weekend, according to Reuters.
Twelve Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in an overnight Israeli airstrike in the north of the enclave, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported.
Communications in Gaza remain disrupted for the fourth consecutive day, residents say.
The Israeli military claimed it killed two Palestinian gunmen in an aerial strike on their vehicle carrying weapons in Khan Younis, as well as raided a Hamas command centre in the city and hit two weapons hideouts.
On Sunday, Hamas released a video featuring three Israeli hostages calling on the Israeli government to halt the air and ground offensive and secure the release of the captives.
The undated 37-second video showing 26-year-old Noa Argamani, 53-year-old Yossi Sharabi and 38-year-old Itai Svirsky ended with the caption, “Tomorrow [Monday] we will inform you of their fate.”
About half of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attack on southern Israel were released during the brief November truce. However, Israel says 132 hostages remain in Gaza, with 25 having died in captivity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, declaring that Israel will carry on until it achieves a complete victory over Hamas and returns the remaining hostages.
