[Jimbuna]

US fears most of the hostages held by Hamas could be dead

The United States fears Hamas may not have enough live hostages to secure a deal that leads to a Gaza ceasefire, reports suggest. Israel has demanded the return of at least 40 captives if there was going to be a pause in fighting.

But new reports state that most of those taken during the October 7 terrorist attack may already be dead. International negotiators have been involved in intense talks to reach a deal that leads to a six-week ceasefire. But the troubling latest reports have sparked more alarm bells and could derail future negotiations.

Israeli Defense Forces fear there could be twice as many hostages dead as the 34 who are believed to have died in captivity, the Wall Street Journal reported. Families now face the prospect of never seeing their loved ones again, as the U.S, desperately tries to cut a deal and civilian casualties pile up in Gaza.

Israel has rejected claims they haven't made the safe return of hostages a priority as it continued its strikes and counter offensives. Hostages who have been released in the six months since the war began have shared their harrowing experiences.

They include being [sexually assaulted], beaten and having surgeries done by those holding them captive. Their families have campaigned furiously for their freedom and were this week at the White House petitioning Kamala Harris.

Harris met with family members of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza Tuesday who said they weren't interested in expressions of incremental results. 'We don't want any more progress. We want results,' said Rachel Goldberg (center), mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Like other family members of hostages taken in the brazen Oct. 7 attack, Goldberg wore a piece of tape with the number 186 signifying the number of days in captivity. Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen appealed to all sides to reach a deal which 'the horror – the horror – that the civilians of Gaza have been experienced, we've been experiencing for the last six months, to come to an end.'

'There is hope for people on both sides of the border - only after the hostages come home,' he said. 'We are waiting now in the world waits for Hamas to get to yes ... And we all of us will see shortly if Hamas cares enough about its own people, its own people, to say nothing of our loved ones to move towards de-escalation to returning the light to everyone in and around Gaza,' he said.

The Israeli Defense Forces say there are 133 hostages remaining in Gaza as the war continues. Goldberg spoke of the eight Americans held in Gaza, as well as people 'we don't hear about' – including eight Muslim Arabs, seven Thai Buddhists, and two black African Christians.

Earlier at the White House, national security advisor Jake Sullivan sought to pressure Hamas to accept a deal negotiated in Cairo that would include a temporary cease fire and the release of hostages. 'You have a party who is holding innocent people that it took hostage a long time ago doesn't get a lot of attention, unfortunately, in the commentary,' he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...&ei=37#image=6