Siegel, an American citizen, was kidnapped along with his wife Aviva, who was released in November during a brief truce. The Siegels were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas attacked Israeli communities near Gaza, while Omri Miran was taken prisoner from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Speaking under duress in video released by Hamas’ armed wing, Siegel, 64, and Miran, 46, urged the Israeli government to reach an agreement with Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.
“I have been here, in the captivity of Hamas, for 202 days. The situation here is unpleasant, difficult and there are many bombs,” said Miran.
“We’ll fight until you come back”
In response to the video, the families of the two said they would continue to fight for the men’s return and called on the government to secure a new deal to release the hostages.
“Keith, I love you, we will fight until you come back,” said the American’s wife.
Earlier this month, she told the BBC how the couple were at one point left in a tunnel by their captors as they were moved from place to place. The woman said then that she did not know if her husband was still alive.
“The fact that I saw my father today only emphasizes to all of us that we need to come to an agreement as soon as possible and bring everyone home. I ask that the leaders of this country watch this video and see their father crying out for help,” said one of Siegel’s daughters.
Speaking at the weekly demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding action to free the hostages on Saturday evening, Dani Miran, the father of Omri Miran, described the emotion of seeing the video recording of his son who he “hoped was alive”, notes the BBC.
He also addressed the government directly and specifically mentioned its far-right members – National Security Minister Itamar ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – asking them to secure a deal on the hostages. At the same time, the man urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “approve any viable agreement”.
“Take a small step without bloodshed for both peoples. All the inhabitants of Israel and the nations of the world want to see the end of the bloodshed and especially the end of the suffering of your people”, the father of the Israeli hostage also declared.
Before he gave his speech, the video of the hostages was broadcast in its entirety on large screens around the Soldiers’ Square, an extremely unusual thing, because such images are not generally broadcast on television, the British journalists also state.
The new video comes as Hamas said it was studying Israel’s latest truce proposal. The international press notes that Egypt, which plays the role of mediator, has sent a delegation to Israel to give new impetus to the stalled negotiations.
Such a deal would see the release of the remaining hostages and could stop Israel’s planned ground attack on the southern city of Rafah, Israel’s foreign minister said on Saturday.
Earlier this week, Hamas released another video featuring Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who is shown without his lower left arm.
The October 7 Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people and the group took about 250 hostages, according to Israel. Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Photo: Profimedia
Follow us on Google News
Tags: Hamas Releases Pictures American Israeli Kidnapped October #7th Attack Call Families
-
