'Noga Weiss, an 18-year-old Israeli woman, endured a harrowing 50-day captivity in Gaza before her release in a hostage exchange last year. In a chilling interview with Channel 12, she recounted the ordeal, revealing the disturbing proposal made by one of her Hamas captors.
Seeking to prolong her captivity indefinitely, the captor offered Noga a ring, expressing his intention to marry her and have her bear his children in Gaza. This proposal, made on the 14th day of her captivity, forced Noga to feign amusement to ensure her safety.
Noga's mother, Shiri, also faced a similar proposal from another Hamas captor during their shared captivity. Initially attempting a polite refusal, Shiri ultimately raised her voice to convey her emphatic rejection.
Tragically, Noga's father, Ilan, was killed in an attack by Hamas members, leaving their home in the kibbutz emergency squad. His body was taken into Gaza, confirming his demise.
In a separate development, Israel intensified airstrikes on Rafah in preparation for a possible ground operation, despite warnings of potential civilian casualties. Multiple Israeli airstrikes in Rafah resulted in reported casualties.
The dire situation in Gaza was underscored by Ibrahim Khraishi, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, who expressed concerns about the high-alert status and limited safety options for civilians.
The densely populated Gaza Strip faced renewed bombardment from Israeli forces, who sought to dismantle Hamas but lacked a clear strategy for achieving this goal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet convened to discuss targeting remaining Hamas strongholds, particularly in Rafah.
The escalating conflict had exacted a heavy toll on Gaza, with thousands of Palestinian casualties, widespread displacement, and immense suffering among civilians. The acute food shortages further exacerbated the severe humanitarian crisis, straining aid agencies to meet the population's escalating needs.'
