Hamas source claims hostages were sometimes held ‘meters away’ from IDF
Hamas terrorists stand at a site as Hamas says it continues to search for the body of the last deceased hostage, in Gaza City December 8, 2025. (photo credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)
On several occasions, IDF troops were directly above the tunnels where terrorists had hidden hostages, and had to be misled or distracted so that the terrorists could transfer the hostages elsewhere.
Hostages in Gaza were sometimes kept only meters away from IDF soldiers, a Hamas source claimed to the Saudi outlet Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday.
On several occasions, IDF troops were directly above the tunnels where Hamas terrorists had hidden the hostages, and needed to be misled or distracted so that the terrorists could transfer the captives elsewhere.
According to AsharqAl-Awsat, the source claimed that Hamas had been strictly ordered to preserve the hostages, living and dead, so they could be used as a bargaining chip with Israel.
An Israeli soldier stands inside a tunnel underneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, in the Gaza Strip, June 8, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
Living hostages continuously moved to prevent discovery
As the source noted, the living hostages were continuously shuttled between hiding places, tunnels and above-ground apartments, in order to prevent them from being found.
The bodies of the deceased captives were either buried inside the tunnels, near cemeteries, or in areas managed by factions that could preserve them.
