Hamas Rescues Israeli Prisoner After Suicide Attempt, Blames Netanyahu

The al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on Friday that they had rescued an Israeli prisoner who attempted suicide a few days prior while in captivity in the Gaza Strip. In a statement released on Telegram, the brigades said, "A few days ago, at the last minute, we rescued one of the prisoners of the Zionist enemy after he attempted suicide in his place of captivity." news

Why this matters: The incident highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where both Israeli captives and Palestinian civilians are suffering due to the ongoing conflict. This development also underscores the need for international intervention to prevent further deterioration of the situation and to ensure accountability for alleged war crimes.

The statement held the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally responsible for the deterioration of the physical and psychological health of some of its prisoners in Gaza. This development comes amid an ongoing conflict that has resulted in the deaths of more than 34,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and the displacement of 85% of Gaza's population.

The conflict began with a Hamas incursion on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people. Israel has since launched a retaliatory war on Gaza, leading to widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis. The United Nations reports that vast areas of Gaza lie in ruins, and the population struggles to access basic necessities like food, clean water, and medicine.

The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and issued an interim ruling in January stating that it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in the Palestinian territory. The court ordered Israel to stop such acts and ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided to Gaza's civilians.

The al-Qassam Brigades did not provide further details on the identity of the rescued prisoner or the circumstances surrounding the attempted suicide. However, the incident highlights the dire conditions faced by Israeli captives in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict. As of May 2024, 134 Israelis are believed to be held in Gaza, while Israel is holding 9,000 Palestinians in its jails.