Hamas releases video showing two Israeli hostages allegedly in Gaza City

BarcelonaHamas released a video this Friday showing two hostages the Islamist group is holding in the Strip's capital, in an attempt to pressure Israel to stop the indiscriminate bombing of the civilian population. The two hostages are Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar Daviv, who have been held captive for 700 days. But far from achieving even a pause in the punishment against Gaza City, the Israeli army has further intensified the bombing, and this Friday afternoon the armed forces issued a forced evacuation order for the residents of the city's tallest residential building, reported the Al-Jaze television network.

The 16-story building houses at least 65 apartments and numerous commercial establishments on the ground floor. The evacuation announcement was confirmed by several residents who received a phone message from the Israeli army giving them a very short window to evacuate immediately. The evacuation order unleashed a renewed state of panic and fear among the civilian population, the network also reported. However, this is not the first time that Jewish forces have issued a similar order. They had previously issued a similar order to the residents of the 12-story Mushtaha Tower, which they blew up shortly afterward, claiming it was "Hamas infrastructure."

Regarding the video of the hostages, both appear inside a car and claim to be in the capital of the enclave where the Israeli army has intensified its offensive to take control. Gilboa-Dalal claims he has been held for 22 months, which would indicate that it is a recent video.

Hamas could publish more videos of this type to influence Israeli public opinion—mostly opposed to continuing the war—and pressure Netanyahu's government to negotiate a ceasefire.

Internal pressure to release the hostages

In fact, this week protests outside the residences of government ministers demanding an end to the war and the return of the hostages have intensified, according to the Israeli newspaper this Friday. Haaretz, the army has warned the families of the hostages that amid the military campaign to conquer Gaza City, Hamas is increasing "psychological terrorism" by publishing more videos of their loved ones.

After the army announced on Thursday that it controls 40% of the enclave, tonight it attacked several makeshift tents and residential buildings where people from across the Strip have taken refuge. The attacks have left at least 50 Palestinians dead this Friday, 30 of them in the capital, according to Al Jazeera, citing hospital sources.

After Israel launched a ground offensive on the capital of the Palestinian enclave on August 10, the second phase of the military operation now includes airstrikes and mass evacuation orders until the west of the city is controlled. It is in this area where the majority of the population has sought refuge, fleeing the constant bombardments, which have caused hundreds of deaths and left thousands homeless. "The operation will continue to expand and intensify in the coming days," warned military spokesperson Effie Defrin in a video message. Among the neighborhoods declared to be under Israeli control are Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan, and Israeli troops are just a few kilometers from the city center.

Israel declared Gaza City, in the north of the Strip, a combat zone last week, and some of its neighborhoods are already considered "red zones," where Palestinians have been ordered to evacuate.

An Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza City explained that most of the people are being forced to relocate continuously within the capital itself. "They are moving from one area to another, less dangerous area, but still within range of Israeli military fire, airstrikes, and bombings," he explains. He adds: "Instead of issuing large-scale forced displacement orders, the heavy bombardment, with heavy artillery, airstrikes, and drone attacks, is forcing people to move so that their neighborhoods are being erased." He gives the example of the people who moved to the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood hoping it would be a safer area, even though it was bombed on Wednesday: "They have been forced to move once again, just a week after doing so for the first time."

Friday's deaths add to the 75 Palestinians killed on Thursday in the enclave, 44 of whom were in the capital. In addition, at least 14 people were killed while trying to obtain humanitarian aid, a pattern that continues to repeat itself since he took over the distribution of basic assistance. the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), controlled by Israel and the United States.

"I want to die here"

Meanwhile, Gaza's civilians have nowhere else to go. "This time I won't leave my home, I want to die here. Tens of thousands of people who left their homes have been killed by Israel, so why worry?" Um Nader, who lives in Gaza City, told Reuters. Residents said Israel bombed the districts of Zeitoun, Sabra, Tuffah, and Shejaia from the ground and air. Tanks entered the eastern part of Sheikh Radwan, northwest of the city center, destroying homes and setting fires in tent encampments.

"Even if the Israeli occupation issues warnings, there are no places that can accommodate civilians; there are no alternative places for people to go," Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for the civil emergency service, also told Reuters.

Much of Gaza City was devastated during the first weeks of the war, between October and November 2023. Before the war, approximately one million people lived there, and hundreds of thousands are believed to have returned, especially since Israel ordered the expulsion of the population from other areas and.