New intelligence reports reveal that Hamas has strategically moved Israeli hostages above ground in Gaza City as part of a calculated effort to restrict Israeli military operations and exploit civilian casualties for international sympathy. This disturbing development represents one of the most egregious violations of international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict.
According to reports from Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, Hamas has deliberately relocated hostages from underground tunnels to residential homes and tents above ground ahead of Israel’s anticipated ground operation in Gaza City. Palestinian sources in Gaza confirmed to Kan that some hostages are being held in houses while others are confined to temporary shelters, strategically positioned to serve as human shields.
The case of Guy Gilboa-Dalal has become emblematic of this cruel tactic. His mother, Merav, received devastating confirmation that her son is being held above ground in Gaza City after Hamas published a video showing him in the backseat of a car on surface streets. “Today I received confirmation that my son is alone, above ground in Gaza,” she told Galei Tzahal Radio in a heartbreaking interview. “This is the lowest of the low. We can’t breathe.”
The psychological torment extends beyond the immediate danger. Merav described the visible deterioration of her son’s condition: “With every sentence he speaks, he has to swallow. I know from the hostages who returned that he is keeping silent because he hasn’t been given enough water. They put him in a long-sleeved shirt so no one would see how frighteningly thin he has become.”
Intelligence reports suggest this repositioning is part of what Hamas calls a “legitimacy ambush” – a strategy designed to maximize civilian casualties and generate international pressure on Israel to halt its offensive operations. The terror organization has simultaneously worked to prevent civilian evacuations from northern Gaza, using threats, propaganda campaigns, and violence against residents attempting to flee south.
This current crisis stems from the October 7, 2023, attack when Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented terrorist assault on southern Israel. In a coordinated attack that shocked the international community, the militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They took 251 hostages from various locations, including kibbutzim, the Nova music festival, and other civilian areas.
As of September 2025, the exact number of hostages remaining in Gaza continues to fluctuate due to ongoing diplomatic efforts and tragic developments. According to various reports, approximately 48 to 100 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas custody, with uncertainty surrounding how many are still alive. Some hostages have died in captivity, while others have been killed during rescue operations or Israeli military strikes.
The use of human shields constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and violates multiple provisions of international humanitarian law, including:
Geneva Conventions: The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits the use of protected persons (including civilians and prisoners of war) to shield military objectives from attack or to shield, favor, or impede military operations.
Trump to Hamas: If Hamas is using hostages as human shields, all bets are off
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