Terrible calls: Israelis listen to screams from the Gaza Strip!

Terrible calls: Israelis listen to screams from the Gaza Strip!

In Israel, numerous people have received worrying phone calls. They heard screams of hostages that are allegedly captured in the Gaza Strip. These calls were discontinued by unknown numbers and contained explosions and siren noises in addition to the screams. The recordings are to come from videos published by Hamas. The forum of the hostage families in Israel confirmed that there were corresponding reports on the calls, but distanced itself from the callers and explained that they did not act on his behalf. The Israeli Cyberdirektion has already started an investigation of the incidents and describes the calls as attempts to stir up panic among the population. Around 20 hostages are still kept alive in the Gaza Strip, while the remains of 35 other kidnapped people are also in the region. With three other hostages, it remains unclear whether they still live or not.

Negotiations with Hamas to release the hostages have stalled. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad had kidnapped numerous people in the course of a massive attack on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli information, over 1,400 people were killed during the attack, including many civilians. Human Rights Watch has classified the hostage frames as war crimes and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians. The organization indicates that hostage frames are prohibited in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and the Roman Statute of the International Criminal Court.

background of the situation

The attacks on the Gaza Strip, which were started in response to the kidnapping, have led to a high number of dead in the past few days. According to reports, at least 21 people are said to have been killed in Israeli attacks, whereby the information about the losses could not be checked independently. Dozens of deaths have been reported daily in the past few days, while the Israeli army has not published any further details about the attacks. The international community exerts increasing pressure on Israel, in particular by closer allies who are concerned about the course of the offensive.

The armed arm of the Hamas stated that he had about 200 hostages in his violence, while the Islamic jihad speaks of 30 hostages. According to reports from Human Rights Watch, a total of 5,192 Palestinians were recorded in Israeli prisons on October 1, 2023, with a large part being custody without charges. Among the hostages are men, women, children and at least one person with disabilities, which makes the situation even more complex.

The situation in the Gaza Strip is still tense. Israel has blocked the import of electricity, water and food in the area, which could be seen as a violation of humanitarian international law. The number of dead increases rapidly and the humanitarian situation is increasing. The international pressure on everyone involved will continue to increase with regard to the release of the hostages and the humanitarian situation.