Several Israeli hostages freed from Gaza have returned home after enduring severe hardships, including weight loss and physical trauma, with details emerging of their difficult captivity in Gaza tunnels, highlighting the ongoing human toll of the conflict.
Omer Shem Tov, a young Israeli hostage seized during the October 2023 Hamas attack, survived 505 days in captivity by turning to faith, prayer, and Jewish rituals, which provided him strength and hope throughout his ordeal.
As Israeli ground forces enter Gaza to eliminate Hamas militants, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) may rely on drones to navigate and attack the labyrinthine tunnel network beneath Gaza. Drone developers are using Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) technology to autonomously map and explore underground spaces without the need for GPS or human operators. Companies like Exyn AI and Shield AI have developed drones capable of intelligently mapping and searching multi-story buildings and underground complexes. Israel's Legion-X system, made by Elbit Systems, incorporates a swarm of drones and robots to explore and engage targets in confined spaces. While the effectiveness of these systems in subterranean warfare remains to be seen, using drones could potentially reduce the risk to human soldiers.