Hamas: How group is holding on despite casualties

As Hamas intensifies its campaign against Israeli forces in Gaza; it is focusing on a new aim: capturing an Israeli soldier.

- Jason Burke

Last week, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) sergeant was killed in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in an attempted abduction. Hamas fighters also tried to take away the body of 25-year-old Abraham Azulay but abandoned the effort when attacked by other Israeli forces.

The capture of a soldier or their remains would offer significant new leverage for Hamas as indirect negotiations continue over a ceasefire deal, and could have a big impact on public opinion in Israel.

Michael Milstein, head of the Palestinian studies forum at Tel Aviv University, said: "This attempt failed. [But there is] no doubt Hamas will increase its attempts to take new hostages, including the bodies of dead soldiers and civilians."

Hamas are still holding 50 of the 250 hostages seized during its surprise attack into Israel in October 2023, when 1,200 people were killed. More than half of the 50 are thought to be dead, and the release of 28 is being discussed in the current ceasefire talks in Qatar.

Abdeljawad Hamayel, a political analyst, said: "Hamas may release captives to have a ceasefire, at least for now, but is also attempting to capture more."