The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas released a video on Saturday showing two Israeli hostages 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.
The Palestinian Islamist movement had already released a video on Wednesday of another Israeli hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23 years old. 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.
It comes 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” due to “numerous Israeli bombings” on 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.
“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.
Families react
In a video shared by the Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing at a rally in Tel Aviv, the daughters and wife of hostage Keith Siegel react to the video of him released by Hamas. “Keith, I love you, we will fight until you return“, said his wife.
“Seeing my dad today only highlights how we need to reach an agreement as quickly as possible and get everyone home. I demand that the leaders of this country watch this video and (act as if it was) their own father calling for help“, explains Keith Siegel’s daughter.
hamas Israel Gaza
