Gaza’s Islamic Jihad says Israeli hostage tried to take his own life
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A tunnel in Tel Aviv, Israel, built in support of the hostages kidnapped during the Oct 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DUBAI - An Israeli hostage held by Gaza’s Islamic Jihad militant group has tried to take his own life, a spokesperson for the movement’s armed wing said in a video posted on Telegram on Jan 2.
One of the group’s medical teams intervened and prevented him from dying, the Al Quds Brigades spokesperson added, without going into any more detail on the hostage’s identity or current condition.
The Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Militants led by Gaza’s ruling Hamas movement killed 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage in an attack in southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023,
The military campaign that Israel launched in response has killed more than 45,500 people, according to health officials in the coastal enclave.
Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamza said the hostage had tried to take his own life three days ago due to his psychological state, without going into more details.
Abu Hamza accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of setting new conditions that led to “the failure and delay” of negotiations for the hostage’s release.
The man had been scheduled to be released with other hostages under the conditions of the first stage of an exchange deal with Israel, Mr Abu Hamza said. He did not specify when the man had been scheduled to be released or under which deal.
Arab mediators’ efforts, backed by the US, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire in Gaza,
Islamic Jihad’s armed wing had issued a decision to tighten the security and safety measures for the hostages, Mr Abu Hamza added.
In July, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing said some Israeli hostages had tried to kill themselves after it started treating them in what it said was the same way that Israel treated Palestinian prisoners.
“We will keep treating Israeli hostages the same way Israel treats our prisoners,” Mr Abu Hamza said at that time. Israel has dismissed accusations that it mistreats Palestinian prisoners. REUTERS
