Netanyahu says ‘in contact’ to secure release of people held by Hamas

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he is holding “contacts” to secure the release of people held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We are in contact until this moment. The situation cannot be detailed, and we are working to recover them all,” Netanyahu said during a meeting with families of the Israelis held in Gaza.

He, however, did not provide any further details about the nature of the contacts.

Last month, Hamas released 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners during a weeklong suspension of attacks by Israel in return for 240 Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails.

Israel estimates that there are around 130 Israelis still held in Gaza by Palestinian groups.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, leaving it in ruins, with half of the coastal territory’s housing damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million people displaced within the densely populated enclave amid acute shortages of food and clean water.

At least 21,320 Palestinians have since been killed and 55,603 others injured, according to local health authorities, while nearly 1,130 Israelis are believed to have died in the Hamas attack.