Hostage crisis in Gaza: Israel faces growing distress and social protests.

Dozens of hostages continue to be held in the Gaza Strip, leading to a climate of tension and distress in Israel and among the families of the captives. According to Israeli authorities, there are currently more than 60 hostages alive and the bodies of another 35, who were captured during the Hamas attack on October 7, still remain in Gaza. This situation has sparked protests and strikes across the country, especially after the Israeli army reported the discovery of the bodies of six recently released hostages. The rescue operation and recovery of the hostages have become a national priority. Since the initial attack, it is estimated that approximately 250 people were kidnapped, the majority of whom were civilians, although there were also military personnel and security staff among the victims. The diversity of the hostages is notable, encompassing not only Israeli citizens but also individuals from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Germany, Mexico, and Thailand, highlighting the complexity of the situation. Among the hostages are 12 American citizens who were captured during the October 7 attack. Of these, at least four remain in the hands of their captors, while others have been released due to pressure from the United States and Qatar. However, the case of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a dual U.S.-Israeli national, has shocked the public following his death, underscoring the gravity of the situation. In total, 117 people have been released since the onset of the crisis. Most of these releases took place during a truce at the end of November, which resulted in a prisoner exchange for Palestinian detainees. Other releases were the result of Israeli military operations, which have had a significant human cost, including the deaths of Palestinian civilians. The conditions of the hostages have become a growing concern. Those who have managed to escape have reported being held in inhumane conditions, facing physical and psychological abuse. A notable testimony comes from Andrey Kozlov, a Russian-Israeli who was rescued and described his captivity experience. Kozlov revealed that he was moved multiple times between different locations and that the conditions were deplorable, limited to a bucket as a toilet and with an alarming shortage of food. The Israeli army has indicated that the hostages have been kept in a series of clandestine locations, including underground tunnels, which further complicates rescue operations. This scenario has fueled urgent rhetoric from Israeli authorities to recover their citizens and ensure that no more lives are lost. As protests erupt in various Israeli cities, the pressure on the government to act intensifies. The families of the hostages are crying out for answers and demanding concrete actions to guarantee the return of their loved ones. The collective anguish is palpable, and citizens have begun to question the government's rescue strategies. Reports of torture and abuse by the captors, which have started to surface thanks to the released hostages, have also sparked a strong debate about how the authorities are handling the situation. The international community is watching closely, and Israel's approach to hostage recovery has become a topic of diplomatic and political discussion. The future of the hostages still remaining in Gaza remains uncertain. As demands and pressure mount, the situation becomes more complicated. The hostages, both those who are alive and those whose fate is still unclear, serve as a painful reminder of the fragility of peace in a region marked by conflict. The hope for a safe and swift return becomes the cry of a nation united by the desire to recover its loved ones.