Omri Miran and Keith Siegel: A video depicts American and Israeli captives in Gaza who are still alive

Omri Miran and Keith Siegel: A video depicts American and Israeli captives in Gaza who are still alive

A video that shows the first indications of life for two more captives being held in Gaza has been released by Hamas.

Omri Miran claims to have been detained for 202 days in undated video that was taken under duress; Keith Siegel also makes reference to this week's Passover holiday, suggesting that the tapes were taken lately.

They were both taken prisoner on October 7, the day Hamas began its lethal campaign.

In response to the video, their families declared that they would not give up on getting the guys back.

Also, they pushed the Israeli government to negotiate a fresh hostage release agreement.

The newest video accompanies Hamas' declaration that it is examining Israel's most recent cease-fire proposal. According to media sources, Egypt, the mediator, dispatched a team to Israel in an attempt to restart the discussions that had halted.

Israel's foreign minister said on Saturday that Israel's planned ground attack on the southern city of Rafah may be halted by a settlement that includes a commitment to release the remaining captives.

"I thought just kill me quickly": The 54-day imprisonment of a US citizen and his wife, Aviva, in Gaza Mr. Siegel was abducted along with her; nevertheless, Aviva was released in November during a temporary ceasefire.

Keith's wife Aviva made the following video statement: "Keith, I love you, we will fight until you return." She revealed to the BBC earlier this month that the couple's kidnappers had once abandoned them in a tunnel as they were being transferred from location to another. She claimed not to know whether Keith was still alive at the time of the interview.

"Seeing my father today just emphasises to all of us how much we need to come to a deal as soon as possible and bring everyone home," his daughter Ilan said. I insist that the nation's leaders see this film and see their father pleading for assistance."

"If you watched the video, you saw that my father knows we are all heading to the rally every week and fighting for both of us and all the captives," his other daughter Shir said.

Omri Miran's father, Dani Miran, led the people in shouting at Saturday night's weekly rally in Tel Aviv calling for action to free the captives.

He gave a stirring address, clearly moved by the sight of his son's video and his realization that "he was hopefully alive."

But there was political content to his remarks as well. He addressed the cabinet directly and called on its far-right members, Itamar ben Gvir, the minister of national security, and Bezalel Smotrich, the minister of finance, to broker a hostage agreement.

He asked Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, to "approve any viable deal".

"Take one small and bloodless step for both peoples," he urged. He continued: "All the people of Israel and the nations of the world want to see its conclusion to the bloodshed and especially an end to the suffering of your people."

Notable was also the fact that the hostage film was shown in its entirety on large screens around Hostage Square prior to Omri's father's address.

This is quite strange since TV shows don't usually air these kinds of films.

The most recent video is "the clearest evidence that the Israeli government need to conduct everything to approve a deal for the return of all the hostages," according to the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters.

It comes after the gang published another proof-of-life video earlier this week, which features 23-year-old Israeli-American prisoner Hersh Goldberg-Polin missing his lower left arm. When Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, it blew off.

His parents also made an appeal to obtain a fresh hostage release agreement in response.

Israeli hostage's anguish over husband Keith's detention by Hamas: "I'm in pieces"

Parents encourage Gaza captive to "stay strong" after the video.

Hamas assaulted Israeli towns near Gaza on October 7, kidnapping the Siegels from Kibbutz Kfar Aza and taking Mr. Miran hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Mr. Siegel, 64, and Mr. Miran, 46, spoke under duress in the video that Hamas' armed wing published, pleading with the Israeli government to reach an agreement with Hamas for a truce and the release of captives.

"I have spent 202 days in prison here in Hamas. It is audible that Mr. Miran is stating, "This place is uncomfortable, challenging, and full with explosives.

Weeks of discussions have failed to result in a deal between Israel and Hamas about the release of these captives and the other hostages being held captive.

A prior offer for 40 of the remaining captives to be released in return for a six-week truce was turned down by Hamas.

The organization has always maintained that any agreement must involve an unconditional return of displaced people to their homes, a permanent end to the conflict, and a complete Israeli military departure from Gaza. Israel is certain that it must eliminate Hamas in Gaza and release the prisoners.

Even though there have been warnings of possibly disastrous humanitarian implications for the 1.5 million displaced Palestinians taking refuge in Rafah, southern Gaza, Israel seems to be proceeding with preparations for an attack.

"We are completing all necessary preparations for the operation [in Rafah]," said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Saturday.

"But I'd hope that there will be a deal."

The Hamas organization kidnapped roughly 250 individuals and murdered over 1,200 others in their assaults. Over 34,000 Palestinians have died in Israel's military attack in Gaza, according to the health ministry operated by Hamas in that region.

A week-long truce and some 240 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons were exchanged for the release of 105 hostages by Hamas, the majority of whom were women and children, as part of an agreement reached in November. There are 133 captives reported to be in Gaza at this time, 30 of them are believed to be dead.