CNN’s Jeremy Diamond examined the deaths of 40 Israeli hostages who were kidnapped alive on October 7 and later died in Hamas captivity. But the report’s framing raises serious questions about how responsibility for those deaths is being assigned.
CNN claimed that 24 hostage deaths could be traced to Israeli military actions. Yet only 11 were identified as deaths caused by Israeli fire or operations. The remaining cases included hostages executed by their captors and others whose causes of death were never confirmed.
Among them were six Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas in a Rafah tunnel in August 2024. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alexander Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi were shot at close range as Israeli forces approached. Hamas made the decision to execute them.
CNN also quoted Palestinian Islamic Jihad claiming it “does not kill captives,” despite the terrorist group’s responsibility for the murder of hostage Elad Katzir.
The distinction between deaths caused directly by Israeli military operations and executions carried out by terrorists is essential. Blurring those categories risks shifting responsibility away from the people who deliberately murdered their captives.
Hamas initiated the hostage crisis on October 7, abducting 251 people into Gaza and holding them in dangerous conditions.
Holding Israel accountable for its military actions should never require minimizing Hamas’ responsibility for kidnapping, abusing, and murdering hostages.
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© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025
