The Hamas militant group released a video Saturday showing two men being held hostage in Gaza and urged the Israeli government to reach an agreement to free all remaining captives.
The Hostage Forum and Missing Families campaign group identified the two as Keith Siegel and Omri Miran who were kidnapped during a Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7. Siegel also holds US citizenship.
“The lives of Keith Siegel and Omri Miran are the clearest evidence that the Israeli government must do everything to agree on a deal to return all the hostages before Independence Day (May 14),” the forum said in a statement.
“The living must return for rehabilitation, and the killed must receive a dignified burial,” he said.
This latest video comes just three days after Hamas released another video showing hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin still alive.
Siegel and Miran appeared to be speaking under pressure.
Also read: Fears of Attack Increase in Rafah after Israel Rescues 2 Hostages
“I have been here in Hamas custody for 202 days. The situation here is unpleasant, difficult and there are many bombs,” Miran, 47, says in the recording, which indicates it was taken earlier this week.
“It’s time to reach an agreement that will get us out of here safe and sound. “Keep protesting, so there will be an agreement now,” he added.
Saturday’s video emerged as Hamas said it was studying Israel’s latest counter proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza after reports that Egyptian mediators had sent a delegation to Israel to restart stalled talks.
Also read: Israel Kills Hundreds of People to Free Two Hamas Hostages
Call to Protest
Siegel, 64, who also spoke in the video, cried as he talked about their detention.
“We are in danger here, there are bombs, it is stressful and scary,” he said, burying his face in his arms and crying.
“I want to tell my family that I love you very much. “It’s important to me that you know I’m OK,” he said.
Also read: Israel Saves 2 Hostages, Major Massacre Occurs in Rafah
“I have very, very fond memories of last year’s Easter that we all celebrated together. I really hope we get the best surprise,” he said, while calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to quickly reach an agreement.
Siegel said he saw footage of demonstrations in Israel calling for a deal to guarantee the release of the hostages.
“I hope and believe that you will all continue,” he said, addressing demonstrators who have held regular demonstrations calling on Netanyahu to agree to a deal.
The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, published several lines in Hebrew in the video.
“Military pressure did not succeed in freeing your captured sons,” he said.
“Do what you need to do before it’s too late,” said another message in Hebrew.
Doc. AFP
Deal Now
On Saturday, a crowd of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv demanding that authorities make a deal for the release of the hostages.
“Deal now,” demonstrators chanted as they called on Netanyahu and his government to resign.
Miran’s father, Dani, attended the rally and urged Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar to agree to the deal.
“All the people of Israel and the countries of the world want to end the bloodshed and especially to end the suffering of your people,” he said.
“Please, one request, make a decision now,”
Organizers of the rally showed the video as protesters shouted against the authorities, an AFP correspondent reported.
“Keith, I love you. We will fight until you come back,” said Siegel’s wife, Aviv, who took part in the protest.
Israeli authorities accused Sinwar of planning an attack on October 7 in which Hamas-led militants kidnapped around 250 people.
The military said 129 of them were still being held in Gaza, including 34 dead. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory military offensive on Gaza has killed 34,388 people, most of them women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry. (AFP/Z-3)
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