Israel is investigating after Hamas released photos purportedly showing the body of a kidnapped woman

Israel says it is investigating after Hamas released photos purportedly showing the body of a woman kidnapped in Gaza.

Speaking at his weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not be able to confirm the images at this time.

“We are in contact with the family, and an important notice has been issued to all families. Our hearts are with them,” Netanyahu said. He stressed that the Israeli government is committed to returning all hostages, including those who have died.

The prime minister also said that he spoke to the mother of the hostage who is said to have been shown in the photos.

“It is difficult to explain the nightmare he is facing. We love his family,” he said.

The Hamas military wing said on Saturday that a female hostage was killed in the northern Gaza Strip “under Israeli violence.”

It did not reveal his name but it had two pictures of the hostage's body. Israel has not commented on the circumstances of the alleged death.

More than 250 people were kidnapped and about 1,200 were killed during the attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

A number of hostages have since been rescued and in November 2023 more than 100 were released as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement.

Another 101 hostages are still being held in Gaza, 97 of whom were taken on October 7, Israeli authorities believe. At least 34 hostages taken on October 7 are presumed dead.

Israel has previously accused Hamas of releasing photos and information about the hostages as a form of “psychological intimidation” aimed at putting pressure on Netanyahu's government to agree to a ceasefire agreement.

Weekly protests demanding the government guarantee the release of hostages have taken place across Israel, including in Netanyahu's residences, often involving family members of the hostages.

Last week, pressure on Netanyahu intensified with the International Criminal Court's decision to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Meanwhile, negotiations regarding a ceasefire agreement for hostages in Gaza have stalled.

Apart from a brief flurry of activity last month, there have been no real talks since six Israeli hostages were killed by Hamas and found in the Gaza Strip at the end of August.

Qatar announced this month that it was suspending its role as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas after concluding that the two sides were no longer negotiating in good faith.

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