In response to Israel intensifying its attacks on Gaza City, the militant group Hamas has released a "farewell photo" featuring 48 individuals.
According to the news agency Al Jazeera, Hamas's military wing has identified these individuals as 48 captives, including Bipin Joshi from Nepal.
While Hamas has stated that some of the 48 captives are dead and others are alive, it hasn't specified who is dead or alive. There is hope that Nepal's Bipin Joshi is still alive.
Israeli officials, however, believe that approximately 20 captives are still being held alive in Gaza.
The caption for each photo in the released list is "Ron Arad," named after the Israeli Air Force captain who went missing in Lebanon in 1986.
Hamas's statement accompanying the photos reads, "A farewell photo as military operations begin in Gaza City due to Netanyahu's rejection and Zamir's surrender." Al Jazeera interprets this as a reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to make a deal with Hamas to end the war in Gaza, and the ground and air attacks led by Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir.
Israel has announced its intention to fully occupy Gaza City and has since intensified its ground and air attacks.
In October 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,000 people. In retaliation, Israel has carried out attacks that have so far resulted in over 65,000 deaths.
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