Hamas issued a new video on the recent Saturday, seemingly featuring two Israeli captives held in Gaza since the October 7th raid on southern Israel. The recording bears resemblance to former captives’ videos circulated by the Islamist faction, a move Israel deems as mental terror.
Keith Siegel (64) and Omri Miran (47) are the names of the captured men, with each delivering their personal messages against a nondescript backdrop. They express affection towards their families and plead for their release.
Mr Miran became the victim of a hostage situation at his Nahal Oz residence, witnessed by his wife and two little daughters during the bloody rampage of Hamas that led to the Gaza war.
A dual national of the US, Mr Siegel was seized along with his spouse from a different border town. However, she was set free during a transient truce in November.
The clip made its appearance during the Passover festival, a time when Jews traditionally observe the ancient tale of achieving liberation from Egyptian bondage.
A poignant moment occurs when Mr Siegel succumbs to tears, reminiscing about the past year’s holiday celebration with his family and wishing for a reunion.
Approximately 250 Israelis and other nationals were captured during the onslaught of Hamas, resulting in around 1,200 deaths, the single deadliest strike in Israel’s history based on Israeli records.
In retaliation, Israel initiated a counterattack on Gaza, promising to eradicate Hamas and recover the captives. This attack has claimed the lives of over 34,000 Palestinians to date, as reported by health officials in Gaza under Hamas governance.
Hamas’ decision to release this video seems to be a tactical manoeuvre aimed at pressuring Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli premier, to abort any major aggression that would escalate the Gaza conflict.
Israel’s proposition for a truce in exchange for the captive individuals comes as a response to Hamas’ standpoint conveyed through intermediaries on April 13th. A high-ranking Hamas official declared in his statement that after a thorough analysis, the organization will provide a response, yet without specifying a precise timeframe.
Earlier this week, the US collaborated with 17 other countries, urging Hamas to emancipate all captives, including their respective nationals held in Gaza. This push aims to invigorate stalled negotiations and to secure more humanitarian assistance for the seaside territory. Hamas is recognised as a terrorist association by the US, the EU, and several other nations.
There have been escalating demands for Mr Netanyahu to negotiate a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant faction, due to mounting global apprehension about his projected assault on Rafah – a city in southern Gaza housing up to a million refugees.
Israel has consistently indicated a readiness to initiate a ground assault in Rafah to fulfil its mission of annihilating Hamas. The Israeli military surmises that an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 Hamas combatants, inclusive of several leaders, are entrenched there, forming the final tier of its defence.