Gaza Militant Group Says Israeli Hostages Tried Suicide

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the hostages' families called for release. (Wikimedia Commons/Government Press Office/Kobi Gideon)

JAKARTA - A spokesman for the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Jihad Islam in a video post on Telegram Thursday revealed that an Israeli hostage who had beaten the group had attempted suicide.

Brigade spokesman Al Quds said one of the group's medical teams managed to prevent the effort and rescue it, without providing further details on the identity of the hostages or the current conditions.

Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamza said the hostages had attempted suicide three days ago due to their psychological condition, without explaining in more detail.

Abu Hamza accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of setting new terms that led to "fail and delay" negotiations on the release of the hostages.

Originally, the man had been scheduled to be released along with other hostages based on the first phase of the exchange deal with Israel, Abu Hamza said.

However, he did not say when the man was scheduled to be released or under which agreement.

Separately, Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Arab mediators' efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, based on a possible deal that would also release Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

The armed wing of Islamic Jihad itself has issued a decision to tighten security and safety measures for the hostages, Abu Hamza said.

In July, armed wing of Islamic Jihad said several Israeli hostages had attempted suicide after they began treating them the same way Israel treated Palestinian prisoners.

"We will continue to treat Israeli hostages in the same way Israel treats our prisoners," Abu Hamza said at the time.

Israel has dismissed allegations that Israel is treating Palestinian prisoners badly.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region, killing 1,200 people and holding 251 others hostage according to Israeli calculations.

In response, Israel carried out a blockade to a military campaign on the track

Local health authorities confirmed on Thursday that the death toll from Palestine since the latest conflict broke out had reached 45,581, while another 108,438 were injured, with the majority of the victims being children and women, quoted from WAFA.