IDF forces discovered a tunnel in southern Gaza where about 20 Israeli hostages were being held in “harsh and inhuman conditions.” Among them was a 5-year-old who drew a hopeful picture while in captivity.
Chilling footage was uploaded on Saturday A vast tunnel is on display that stretches more than 800 meters below the home of a Hamas commander in Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza and where some of the heaviest fighting took place, according to the IDF.
After overcoming several booby traps, explosives and other obstacles set by Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces discovered DNA evidence in the tunnels, along with testimonies from former hostages, and discovered that Emilia Aloni, 5, was found in an underground system. They announced that they had proved that as many as 20 Israelis, including 20-year-olds, were interned there.
In the hostage cage, soldiers found two paintings Emilia had left behind when she and her mother were freed in November.
The picture, which appears to have been drawn in pink crayon, depicts a happy family with nearby flowers, butterflies, and a smiling sun peeking out from behind a mountainside.
Emilia and her mother Daniel were held in one of five cramped holding cells in the tunnel, each with a mattress and a toilet, said Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari. He said this at a press conference on Saturday.
“According to the testimony we have, about 20 hostages were held in harsh conditions, with no sunlight, dense air with little oxygen, and extreme humidity that made it difficult to breathe. They were held in this tunnel at different times,” Hagari said.
A peek into one of the rooms reveals mattresses, blankets, and trash strewn across the floor, and the only ventilation appears to be a fan at each end.
Another holding room appeared to have a single mattress on the ground in a small, empty, white room.
Hagari said some of the hostages held in solitary confinement were freed, as were the Aronians, but the rest were likely moved and remain elsewhere in Gaza, adding that they would face “even harsher conditions.” under the circumstances,” he said.
Hagari did not say which of the more than 130 other hostages being held in the tunnels, but suggested some were elderly who needed medical assistance.
The Israel Defense Forces added that when they began inspecting the tunnels under Khan Yunis, their soldiers encountered several Hamas militants and were killed in the fighting.
The tunnel has since been secured and investigated, and the Israel Defense Forces invited some journalists to tour it on Friday before it is destroyed.
Nearly two months after the initial hostage exchange deal that led to the release of the Aronis was signed, there is still no sign of a new agreement between Israel and Hamas to release the remaining prisoners.
Families of the hostages began escalating demonstrations demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accept the deal, and one of them began a hunger strike in front of the Israeli leader's home.
Some have warned of “extreme action”, including a blockade to prevent humanitarian aid from being sent to Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that military pressure on Gaza is the best way to ensure the safety of the hostages and that the war effort will continue until Hamas is destroyed.
The terrorist organization said the exchange deal would not take place until Israel withdraws its troops from Gaza and releases all Palestinians in prison.
with post wire
