Israel Says - 'This Is Propaganda, Hamas Is Playing Mind-War'
The Palestinian militant group Hamas released a group photo of 48 hostages, including Bipin Joshi, under its control as a "farewell photo". But Israel has taken it as 'propaganda'.
According to Doha-headquartered Al Jazeera Online, the compiled photos released by Hamas' Qassam Brigades show the faces of all hostages, living and dead. Each has been given a different number, naming it after 'Ron Arad', an Israeli Air Force captain who went missing in Lebanon in 1986. The dead and the alive are not separated in the
photo. 48 people including Bipin have been under the control of Hamas since October 7, 2023. Bipin, who came to Israel to study agriculture under the "Learn and Earn" program, was taken hostage by Hamas from Alumim Kibbutz.
10 Nepalese students were also killed in the attack by Hamas. Hamas took 251 hostages. Hostages and Palestinian prisoners have been exchanged in repeated ceasefires over the past two years. Eight hostages were rescued alive by Israeli soldiers. The remaining 48 people are with Bipin. The bodies of Israeli soldiers killed in 2014 are also under the control of Hamas.
While Israel is intensifying its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, Hamas has released those photos saying that the lives of the hostages are at risk. Referring to the fact that the hostages were scattered in places, Hamas claimed that the lives of the hostages were in danger due to Israel's attack and that some of the hostages were killed by Israeli bombs.
Israel has intensified its air and ground military operations in order to control the Gaza Strip within eight months. According to the Israeli military, 34 Palestinians have been killed in attacks in more than 100 areas in the last 24 hours.
Israel's ambassador to Nepal, Shamulik Air Bas, said that Hamas "played psychological warfare". Regarding the issue of Hamas publishing the photo, he said, "I think it is a misunderstanding." Hamas has said that the location of all the hostages may be unknown due to the military operation. In fact, Hamas has played mind-war very well.'
Mother Padma and sister Pushpa reached Israel last month to secure Bipin's release. Bipin's sister Pushpa, addressing the crowd of thousands gathered in Israel's 'Hostage Square', cried and said, 'How can a person live in a dark hellish cell for more than 680 days? Can't even imagine. For two years, my family has been missing my only son and I have been missing my soul, my only brother.'
Israeli citizens have been pressuring the Israeli government to release the hostages. They are calling for a "comprehensive agreement to bring home all the hostages and an end to the war".
