As Israel recovers the bodies of three more hostages, how many are still in Gaza?
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Israel Recovers Bodies of Three Hostages From Gaza
Above: An image of Ofra Keidar hangs from a chair at the Empty Seder Table installation in Westminster, London, on April 17, 2024. Image copyright: Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
This recovery operation demonstrates Israel's unwavering commitment to bringing home every hostage, dead or alive, fulfilling the sacred obligation between a state and its citizens. The successful retrieval of these three bodies shows that military pressure works and validates the continued campaign against the terrorist group Hamas. These families finally have closure after 625 days of agonizing uncertainty.
Pro-Palestine narrative
The recovery comes amid Israel's brutal 20-month genocidal assault on Gaza that has killed nearly 56,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Hamas has repeatedly offered to release all hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, but Israel continues to reject these terms to prolong the war. The focus on hostage recovery cannot mask the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.