Hamas Releases Video of Israeli Hostages Amid Fierce Gaza City Offensive

Hamas on Friday published a video showing two Israeli hostages seized during the October 2023 music festival attack, one of whom said he was being held in Gaza City, where Israeli forces are pressing a major assault.

The hostages were identified as Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel, two of 48 people still in Hamas custody. Israel says 251 people were abducted in the initial cross-border raid that killed 1,200 Israelis. Gaza health officials report more than 64,000 Palestinians have died since the war began.

In the edited footage, Gilboa-Dalal, visibly exhausted, said he feared being killed by Israel’s offensive on Gaza City. Reuters could not independently verify when the video was recorded. Ohel, 24, also appears briefly. Human Rights Watch condemned the release as “inhumane” and a war crime.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged negotiators to restart hostage talks, while far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a full occupation of Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed operations would intensify until Hamas releases the hostages and disarms.

Hamas has signaled it would agree to a temporary ceasefire-for-hostages deal, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on an “all or nothing” settlement requiring the release of all captives and Hamas’s surrender.