Hamas publishes new hostage video – Israelis beg the government for a ceasefire – NRK Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

– Accept an agreement, whatever. It is possible. I’m begging you.

That’s what Dani Miran said in an appeal to Israel’s government after seeing the video of his son, Omri Miran, who is still in Hamas’ captivity in the Gaza Strip.

Miran was one of tens of thousands of protesters who had turned up outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art yesterday, in a square that has been named Hostages Square.

The city has become a meeting place for relatives. 30,000 people turned up on Saturday evening, according to the organisers.

Begging the government

The anger and frustration among the protesters is directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, due to his inability to broker an agreement with Hamas.

Netanyahu is blamed for not putting the safety of the hostages first.

– We want Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu) to think the way Biden thinks about the kidnapped, about the election, about everything. Because Biden cares more about Israel than what Bibi does, says Ely Ellieser to AP.

Meirav Svirsky was one of many who protested outside the Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday. The brother was killed in captivity and the parents were killed during the attack on 7 October.

She questions what military pressure has actually led to, and pleaded with the Israeli government not to enter Rafah with ground forces.

– Please, don’t make the same mistake as before by entering Rafah. (…) For once, put the lives of the hostages first, Svirsky said in an appeal.

She fears it will only lead to more hostages dying.

Three minute long edited video

In a three-minute long video, the two hostages, Israeli Omri Miran and American-Israeli Keith Siegel, talk to their families.

They say that they have seen the demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and ask that the people continue to put pressure on the government.

At one point, Siegel burst into tears.

Miran and Siegel were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Azza and Nir Oz. Miran’s wife was also captured, but was released during the seven-day ceasefire in November last year.

It is unknown whether Miran and Siegel are speaking under duress and whether Hamas has instructed their behavior.

But there is consistent criticism of the Israeli government in all the hostage videos published by Hamas, in addition to assurances that the hostages are fine.

– Seeing my father today only underlines how badly we need an agreement as soon as possible, and to get everyone home again, says one of Siegel’s daughters in a video.

The video was published by Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.

He starts with a clip of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that only military pressure will release the prisoners. Furthermore, a clip of Siegel shaking his head has been edited in.

The message from Hamas is clear. Military pressure does not work.

A final negotiation

Egypt, Qatar and the United States are mediators between the two warring parties, and according to Israeli officials, Israel will give the negotiations “one last chance” before entering Rafah with ground forces.

Hamas states on Sunday that it will send a delegation to Egypt to evaluate a ceasefire proposal from Israel.

At the same time, world leaders are gathered in Saudi Arabia in connection with the World Economic Forum.

The leader, Børge Brende, expressed some optimism on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera. He could tell that “there is a new momentum in the talks about the hostages, and also for a possible way out of the impasse we are facing in Gaza”.

Not sure how many are alive

Last time Hamas and Israel entered into a ceasefire, over 100 hostages were released through a prisoner and hostage exchange.

Initially, Hamas captured over 250 people during the terrorist attack on 7 October. According to experts, it is impossible to know exactly how many are still alive.

They are most likely hidden in the tunnels under the Gaza Strip. Other hostages say that they have lived in apartments and been moved several times.

According to Israel, 31 of the hostages have been killed, either in Israeli bomb attacks or under other circumstances. Israel’s spokesperson David Mencer believes that there are still 133 hostages still in the Gaza Strip.