Israel gives Hamas 'opportunity' for immediate unconditional release of hostages in Gaza

Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog said that Israel is “giving an opportunity” for Gaza terror groups to release people under their captivity. “Israel is giving an opportunity for the hostages to be released. We are obviously calling for the immediate unconditional release of all of them,” Herzog told Army Radio. He added, “Taking hostages is a war crime. I don’t want to comment beyond that.” His comments came amid speculations that Israel is postponing its ground invasion of Gaza to give mediators the time to release over 220 people who are being held hostage by Hamas. Israel says foreign nationals held hostage  Meanwhile, the Israeli government said that half of the 220 hostages held by Hamas possess foreign passports from 25 countries, including 54 Thai nationals. Israel said 138 of the hostages had foreign passports, including 15 Argentines, 12 Germans, 12 Americans, six French and six Russians.

Many were believed to have had dual Israeli nationality; however, some, like the Thais and five Nepalese hostages, almost certainly did not. There was also one Chinese hostage, one Sri Lankan, two from Tanzania and two from the Philippines.

Thais also made up the largest single group of foreign dead and missing, with 24 confirmed killed and 21 unaccounted for.

Among other foreign countries that suffered heavy losses were the U.S., with 34 killed and five missing; Ukraine, with 25 killed and two missing; France, with 23 killed and one missing; and Russia with 23 killed and four missing.

Five Chinese citizens were killed and one was missing, while Nepal had five killed and five missing.

With inputs from Reuters