the Islamist movement publishes a video showing two hostages kidnapped on October 7

JACK GUEZ / AFP

Israel-Hamas war: the Islamist movement publishes a video showing two hostages kidnapped on October 7 (Photo taken during a demonstration for the release of Israeli hostages on April 27, 2024 in Tel Aviv)

GAZA – Hamas provides news of some Israeli hostages. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas released a video this Saturday, April 27, showing two captives it kidnapped during its October 7 attack in southern Israel and taken to Gaza.

The two hostages identify themselves as Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 47. The Hostage Families Forum confirmed their identity. This new video is not dated but Omri Miran, 47, indicates that he has been in the hands of Hamas for 202 days. His 202nd day in captivity is Thursday.

The Palestinian Islamist movement had already released a video on Wednesday of another Israeli hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23 years old.

The hope of “ the nicest surprise possible »

They intervene against the backdrop of negotiations, under Qatari and Egyptian mediation, with a view to a truce in the fighting in the Gaza Strip associated with the release of a certain number of hostages.

Speaking presumably under duress, Omri Miran describes “a difficult situation” because of “numerous bombings” Israelis in the Gaza Strip. He calls on his family to pressure the government to reach an agreement with Hamas allowing the release of the hostages. He says he hopes to be reunited with his family for Israel’s Independence Day on May 14.

Keith Siegel, 64, refers to the Passover celebrations – the Jewish Passover whose week of festivities ends this year on Monday evening – spent with family last year and says “hope for the nicest surprise possible” before bursting into tears while hiding her face.

“Do everything possible to reach an agreement”

“We are in danger here, there are bombs, it’s stressful and scary”he said, before calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government to negotiate to quickly reach an agreement allowing the release of the hostages.

The hostages’ comments are interspersed with messages from Hamas, written in Hebrew and Arabic and addressed to Israeli citizens, such as “military pressure did not allow you to free your captive sons”, “your leaders (…) have nothing to do with the fate of your captive sons and what they feel” Or “do the right thing before it’s too late”.

“This proof of life of Keith Siegel and Omri Miran clearly shows that the Israeli government must do everything possible to reach an agreement for the return of all hostages before Independence Day”indicates the Hostage Families Forum.

Omri Miran ar’s fatheracted on the Israeli news channel Channel 12, reports the Israeli daily Haaretz : “Judging from the photo, I can’t tell, he seems to be fine, even very fine. I just hope he’s still mentally well.”

Other hostage videos have already been released by Palestinian armed groups since the start of the war. The hostages speaking in previous videos testified to similar conditions of detention, and also questioned the Israeli authorities.

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