Islamic Jihad: Israeli captive tried to take own life

An Israeli hostage held in Gaza has tried to take his own life, the spokesperson for Islamic Jihad’s armed wing said in a video posted on Telegram today, Reuters reports.

One of the group’s medical teams intervened and prevented him from dying, the Al-Quds Brigades spokesperson added, without going into any more detail on the hostage’s identity or current condition.

Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamza said the hostage had tried to take his own life three days ago due to his psychological state, without going into more details.

Abu Hamza accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of setting new conditions that had led to “the failure and delay” of negotiations for the hostage’s release.

The man had been scheduled to be released with other hostages under the conditions of the first stage of an exchange deal with Israel, Abu Hamza said.

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Arab mediators’ efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire in Gaza, under a possible deal that would also see the release of Israeli hostages in return for the freedom of Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

Islamic Jihad’s armed wing had issued a decision to tighten the security and safety measures for the hostages, Abu Hamza added.

Hamas has repeatedly confirmed, over the past months, its readiness to conclude a prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement, and even announced its approval of a proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed down from the proposal, putting forward new conditions, most notably the continuation of the genocidal war and said Tel Aviv would not withdraw from Gaza.

Opposition parties and the families of the Israeli captives accuse Netanyahu of obstructing agreements that could lead to the release of their loved ones in an effort to stay in power and not be tried on corruption charges he faces.

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