The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, released a series of photographs on Saturday, September 20, 2025, showing 46 Israeli captives held in the besieged Gaza Strip, some alive and others deceased.

The images, posted on the Brigades’ official Telegram channel, appear to be a direct message to the Israeli government as its forces escalate a ground invasion of Gaza City.

The photos were accompanied by a chilling caption: “Due to Netanyahu’s obstinacy and Zamir’s submission; [here is] a farewell picture as the operation in Gaza began.” The series began with an image of Ron Arad, an Israeli air force officer who vanished in Lebanon in 1986 after his plane was shot down. Each subsequent captive was assigned a serial number alongside Arad’s name, hinting at a grim warning that their fate could mirror Arad’s, whose whereabouts remain unknown despite decades of Israeli intelligence efforts.

In a strongly worded statement, Hamas held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, described as a “war criminal,” solely responsible for the captives’ lives, citing his decision to launch a ground invasion of Gaza City. “Netanyahu’s reckless decision to escalate the war endangers the very captives he claims to want to free,” the statement declared. “The responsibility for their safety and their fate lies entirely with the Israeli leadership.” (ILKHA)