The Diplomat
The Government of Spain has expressed this Thursday its “dismay” at the death in captivity of several hostages captured by Hamas during the attacks perpetrated in Israel on October 7, 2023 and has demanded the release of “all hostages”.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has conveyed “its deepest condolences to their families and loved ones” and has warned that “all hostages must be released”. “Spain hopes that the ceasefire in force will be permanently consolidated, that violence in the Middle East will cease and that progress can be made towards a just and lasting peace”, the text concludes.
Israel has confirmed the death of four hostages handed over this Thursday by Hamas. They are Shiri Bibas and her two sons Ariel and Kfir, aged nine months and four years, respectively, and Oded Lifshitz, aged 84.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said during a visit to Rome that the next few days “will be especially harrowing.” Meanwhile, Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said that the four hostages “were captured alive” on October 7 and that the “detention centers” where they were being held were “deliberately bombed” by Israeli aircraft.
Hamas also said that next Saturday it will release the only six hostages still alive in the Gaza Strip out of the 33 it must hand over in compliance with the first phase of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on January 19.
