Hamas Claims Israeli Hostages Killed, Israel Disputes; Twin Attacks in Raanana Kill One, Injure 17

As the conflict continues, Israel plans to de-escalate operations in southern Gaza amid rising death toll, while an Israeli soccer player is detained and released in Turkey for expressing support for hostages.

Two Israeli hostages, Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky, have reportedly been killed in captivity, according to a video released by Hamas. The video also features Noa Argamani, another captive who seems to be reading a prepared text confirming the deaths of Sharabi and Svirsky due to Israeli airstrikes. These claims, however, have been challenged by the Israeli military spokesperson, who asserted that Svirsky was not a casualty of Israeli forces and that the building where they were held captive was not in the line of fire.
An elderly woman was killed and 17 others were injured in Monday’s twin attacks in the central Israeli city of Raanana, according to statements released by the hospitals treating the victims of the attack. The Israeli Police said two suspects in the two simultaneous terror attacks were residents of Hebron. Hebron is a city in the occupied West Bank. The police said they entered Israel illegally and are now in police custody.
Israel has said its operations against Hamas in southern Gaza will soon enter a less intensive phase, after the militant group's health ministry reported the death toll in the territory had surpassed 24,000. More than 100 days into the war, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under intense international pressure to end the fighting as civilian deaths soar and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.
Hamas released a video on Sunday showing three Israeli hostages in captivity in Gaza. The undated tape shows Noa Argamani, 26, Itai Svirsky, 38, and another man, each saying their name, age and place of residence while looking directly into the camera. In what seems to be a montage of three clips, Argamani, Svirsky and the other hostage ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “stop the war” and “bring us home.” It is not clear whether the hostages were speaking under duress.
Israeli player Sagiv Jehezkel was detained by the Antalyasor at the weekend after displaying a message on his bandaged wrist supporting Israeli hostages after scoring a goal for top tier club Antalyasor. The prosecutor’s office said its procedures have been completed, but there's no indication that the investigation into the player has been dropped. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the player's release came after Israeli political and consular activity with Turkish officials.