Canadian-Israeli Vivian Silver spent her adult life campaigning for peace and human rights for Palestinians, particularly those living in impoverished Gaza.
The 74-year-old is now presumed to be a prisoner, among the dozens of civilian hostages held by Hamas following the militant group’s coordinated weekend attack on Israeli soil.
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Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said in an audio released Monday night that the threat was a response to intense air strikes by Israel on civilian areas.
“We have decided to put an end to this and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,” he said.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza, including a blockade of food, electricity and fuel. Israeli rockets rained down on the overcrowded Palestinian enclave, which is home to two million civilians, half of whom are under the age of 19.
Speaking to Global News from Gaza over cellphone video, Palestinian Aziz Elkahlout said the Israeli air attacks were striking civilian targets without warning. He said his neighbours were killed and their local market was destroyed.
“There is a lot of children, women, old people. They’re hitting anything without warning,” he said, his comments interrupted by an explosion in the distance.
Relatives mourn people killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Monday. Israel’s military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair).
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Global News asked Silver’s former colleague and fellow humanitarian, Ariel Dloomy, what she’s thinking about her captivity and Israel’s response.
“Vivian’s message would be to never lose hope,” he said.
“I’m sure that deep inside her, despite all these difficulties, she knows how to separate between the terrorists and the ordinary people. There are two million people living in Gaza, and we have to find a way, as the Israelis, to live with them in peace.”