Hamas publishes archive photo of remaining 48 hostages, labeling them each as ‘Ron Arad’
The terrorist organization said that “the fate of the hostages will be like Ron Arad,” referencing the IAF navigator who was taken captive in Lebanon.
Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades published a photo on Saturday of all 48 remaining hostages on Saturday, in which each hostage was labeled with the name “Ron Arad” and given a number.
The terrorist organization said that this is the hostage’s farewell photo ahead of the operation in Gaza City.
On Thursday, Hamas issued a statement saying that the hostages were spread throughout the perimeter of Gaza City, and that their lives would not be guaranteed as long as Israel continues its military operation in Gaza.
“Your hostages are scattered within the neighborhoods of Gaza City, and we will not be concerned for their lives as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them,” the Thursday statement read. “The initiation of this criminal operation and its expansion means that you will not retrieve any hostage, neither alive nor dead.”
This was the first statement released under the name “the Leadership of the Hamas Military Wing” rather than by the organization’s spokesman Abu Obeida, reinforcing Israeli assessments that he was killed.
IDF’s 162nd Division deepens ground maneuvers in Gaza City, September 19, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
IDF starts push into Gaza City
The terror group added that “the fate of all the hostages will be like the fate of Ron Arad,” referencing the IAF navigator who was taken captive in Lebanon in 1986 by the Shia terrorist group Amal and was confirmed dead by Israel in 2016.
This week, families of the hostages arrived at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem and protested against the invasion of Gaza City.
The families of Matan Angrest, Matan Zangauker, Guy Illouz, and Rom Braslavski demonstrated near Netanyahu’s residence, calling for the return of their relatives.
Idan Zonshine contributed to this report.
