Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari gestures as he stands in what he describes as living quarters used by Hamas militants in the basement of Rantissi Hospital, a paediatric hospital with a specialty in treating cancer patients, at a location given as Gaza, in this still image taken from video released November 13, 2023. As the invasion has proceeded, Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian infrastructure to hide command centers and weapons positions and of using civilians and hospital patients as human shields. Hamas and hospital authorities in Gaza have denied that health facilities have been used in this way. There was no immediate comment from Hamas on the latest Israeli statements. Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THE LOCATION OR THE DATE THE VIDEO WAS FILMED.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army confirmed the identity of a soldier held captive by Hamas, following the publication of a video by the armed wing of the Palestinian group showing the young woman in captivity.
“Our hearts go out to the Marciano family, whose daughter, Noa, was brutally kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization,” the army said in a statement released shortly after midnight.
“We are using all means, both intelligence and operational, to bring the hostages home.”
It was the first time the army has officially confirmed a hostage’s identity since Hamas gunmen abducted about 240 people when they stormed across the militarised border from Gaza on October 7.
On Monday night, Hamas’ Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades published a video of the soldier apparently reading a message in Hebrew in which she identified herself by name and identity card number and said she had been detained in Gaza for four days.
“An IDF (Israel Defense Forces) representative came to the family’s home and informed them of the video’s publication,” the army statement said.
“The Hamas terrorist organization continues to exploit psychological terrorism and act inhumanely, through videos and photos of the hostages, as done in the past.”
The Israeli army has been waging a campaign to destroy Hamas, whose gunmen it says killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the worst attack on the country since its founding.
Israel says 44 of its troops have also been killed in fighting in Gaza.
The country is facing intense international calls to minimize civilian suffering during its massive air and ground operations, which the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says have killed 11,240 people, including 4,630 children.
