Title: Hamas Claims Three Israeli Hostages Killed in Israeli Strike
Date: Dec. 23, 2023
Byline: Olivia Land
Hamas’ military wing has alleged that three elderly Israeli nationals were among five hostages supposedly killed in an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip.
The terror group claimed that five hostages, including Israelis Chaim Peri, Yoram Metsger, and Amiram Cooper, were killed since contact was lost with the Hamas members tasked with guarding them, Al-Qassam Brigades posted on Telegram. The additional two hostages were not named in the post.
Peri, 79, Metzger, 80, and 84-year-old Cooper were all kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Oct. 7 massacre. The men appeared in a disturbing video shared by Hamas earlier this week, showing them suffering greatly in harsh conditions.
In the video, the men, all with uncut beards after 10 weeks in captivity, pleaded with Israel to secure their release. Israel denounced the video as indicative of “Hamas’ cruelty against very elderly civilians, innocents who need medical care.”
Peri, a film lecturer and activist, was abducted from his home on the kibbutz while trying to shield his wife behind a couch. Metzger, who has diabetes, was kidnapped alongside his wife, Tamar Metzger, while Cooper, an economist, was one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz and was kidnapped with his wife, Nurit.
Hamas’ claim comes less than two weeks after the Israel Defense Forces admitted that they mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages while on patrol in Gaza City as part of a massive military effort, which is thought to have killed around 20,000 people according to unconfirmed reports by the area’s Hamas-linked health ministry.
The situation in the region remains volatile, with ongoing conflict and tragic losses for the civilians caught in the crossfire.