(NewsSpace.com) – It’s been more than five months since Hamas attacked Israel, setting off a conflict that has significantly impacted Gaza. Israeli forces have been relentless in their pursuit of eliminating Hamas, and millions of Palestinians have been displaced as a result. Now, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is calling for Israel to release some of its members that it claims are being held hostage by the Jewish state.
PRCS Demands Release of Hostages
In a statement on Sunday, March 17, the PRCS accused Israel of detaining 13 of its healthcare workers who have volunteered with the agency. The volunteers were reportedly seized when Israeli forces raided a Khan Younis hospital. The organization notes that they let one worker, Tamer Fouad Salim Al-Qarm, go the previous day, but there’s been no word on whether the Jewish state plans to release the other 13. Medical workers are protected by international law.
Israel, on the other hand, is calling for the release of more than 100 detainees being held by Hamas. Members of those victims’ families are calling for the government to do more to find them.
Current Status of the Conflict
Israel has no intention of backing down anytime soon, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He’s refused to call off his latest move, which is to launch an offensive in Rafah. The problem is that the city is sheltering more than one million displaced Palestinians and sits near the Egyptian border, which has led to concerns that it could lead to increased conflict.
Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to move forward with entering the city on Tuesday, March 19, because he says his forces need to follow through on “the destruction or elimination of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, the release of all [its] hostages, and to ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat” to his country.
More than 31,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched its offensive, many of whom are women and children. Recent reports indicate that between March 16 and 17, at least 92 more people were killed. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying that the Israeli government is dominated by “blind revenge” that “threatens the security and stability of the region and the world.”
Making matters worse, food insecurity is prominent, and it’s been difficult for officials to get humanitarian aid to the people. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said everyone in Gaza—100% of the population—is considered to be food insecure.
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