Evidence of the hostages held by terrorists was found in a Hamas command center under a children’s hospital in Gaza, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.
In a video posted online Monday, IDF Chief Spokesman R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari gave a tour of the Hamas command center under the Rantisi Children's Hospital. There, the IDF found terrorist suicide vests, rocket-propelled grenades, and other weapons.
There was also evidence that some of the 200-plus hostages that Hamas terrorists abducted from Israel had previously been kept in the location and were taken there shortly after the Oct. 7 attack.
In the video, Hagari showed a basement location that was separate from the rest of the facility which contained explosives and other weapons. He also showed that the Hamas terror tunnels came out directly into the hospital.
The facility held improvised toilets as well as chairs with ropes attached to them and a motorcycle with a bullet hole that was connected to one of the abductions.
Baby bottles, diapers, and other supplies were also found on the floor, indicating that one of the babies taken hostage by terrorists was held at the location.
Additionally, a makeshift calendar was found marking the days since the October 7 massacre, possibly indicating when the terrorists left with the hostages. The calendar also appeared to include a guard schedule.
Hagari was unsure if the terrorists used the evacuation of the hospital as cover to escape the underground tunnel network.
Rami Igra, former Mossad chief of hostage rescue, told I-24 news that Hamas holds approximately 150 of the hostages and Islamic Jihad has roughly 30.
The remainder are being held by Palestinians who had crossed the border on Oct 7 and returned home "with a pet Israeli."
The Washington Post, citing an unnamed high-ranking Israeli official, reported on Monday that Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal to exchange terrorist prisoners for Israeli women and children held hostage by Hamas.
According to the Jerusalem Post, on Monday Hamas told Qatari mediators that the terrorist group would release up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in return for a five-day ceasefire with Israel.
