In the midst of escalating tensions in the Middle East, Hamas has reported that Israel’s relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip has resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 hostages, among them foreigners. The hostage crisis adds further complexity to an already volatile situation in the region.
Weekly Muslim prayers on Friday triggered protests across the Middle East, while Jerusalem’s Old City remained a hotbed of unrest. The Islamic endowment responsible for managing the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a flashpoint holy site in the city, announced that Israeli authorities had imposed a ban on Palestinian men under the age of 50 from entering the area.
The current crisis was ignited by Hamas’ attack, which saw their fighters carrying out a brutal assault that resulted in hundreds of casualties in southern Israel. Additionally, the group seized approximately 150 individuals, taking them as hostages to Gaza.
Hamas claims that Israel’s unrelenting airstrikes over the past day have resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 of the hostages. Although Hamas stated that foreigners were among the deceased, it did not provide information regarding their nationalities.
In response to these allegations, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari categorically denied Hamas’ claims, stating to Al-Jazeera Arabic, “We have our own information and do not believe the lies of Hamas.”
Israel announced on Thursday that it would prohibit the entry of supplies into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages, further intensifying an already dire humanitarian situation in the besieged territory. The international community remains deeply concerned about the escalating crisis and its impact on innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
