In a statement this week, the Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, confirmed the death of Hannah Katzir, a 77-year-old civilian who had been abducted from Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel, on October 7. The news marks a grim development in a conflict that has drawn international attention to the fate of hostages and the broader humanitarian toll in the region.
Spokespersons for allied factions have reiterated a long-standing position regarding hostage releases. Abu Hamza, a spokesman for the Jerusalem Brigades, underscored that discussions about freeing Katzir and a 13-year-old boy, Yagil Yaako, have been framed around humanitarian considerations. He pointed to what he described as delays on Israel’s side in reaching a negotiated agreement, linking those holdups to the escalation in humanitarian crises and, ultimately, to the consequences faced by the captives. The statements emphasize that the parties to the conflict are under pressure to balance military objectives with the imperative to protect noncombatants and vulnerable civilians caught in the fighting.
In a concise remark reported by the Al Jazeera network, Abu Hamza asserted that the captives cannot be held responsible for the ongoing and intense bombardment faced by the Gaza Strip. He framed the situation within the broader context of what he called a continuous and devastating military campaign across the territory, arguing that such actions complicate any potential resolution and prolong suffering for the hostage families and residents of Gaza alike.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the situation with a measured tone, noting that war unfolds in phases. He suggested that even a potential release of hostages would not signal a swift end to Israel’s efforts against militant infrastructures in the Gaza Strip. The remarks reflect a persistent theme in the conflict: military operations are often framed as necessary steps to neutralize threats while observers call for greater adherence to international humanitarian norms and protections for civilians amid ongoing hostilities.