Jerusalem:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned as “brutal psychological propaganda” a video released on Monday by Hamas, showing three hostages taken by the resistance movement on October 7.
The video shows three women – identified by Netanyahu as Yelena Trupanob, Danielle Aloni and Rimon Kirsht – sitting together in front of a bare wall, and Aloni addressing an angry message to the prime minister. Are.
He accused Netanyahu of failing to protect Israeli civilians during the Hamas offensive and return them home, and demanded a deal to ensure Palestinian prisoners’ release in exchange for their release.
“You were supposed to free us all. You made a commitment to free us all. But instead we are suffering your political, security, military, diplomatic failure,” he said.
In a statement, Netanyahu reiterated a pledge to do everything possible to bring the hostages home.
He said, “Kidnapped by Hamas, which is committing war crimes, I embrace you. Our hearts are with you and the other detainees. We are doing everything we can to bring home all the detainees and missing.”
Aloni’s father, Ramos Aloni, said his heart almost stopped when he saw his daughter in the video, he was shocked but also relieved that she was alive.
“To date we have not received any confirmed information about him,” he told reporters gathered in Tel Aviv.
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Aloni is in captivity along with five other members of his family, including 3-year-old twin grandchildren, he said.
Avital Kirsht, whose daughter Rimon sat quietly beside Aloni in the video, said they would do everything to bring her home and demanded that the hostages receive immediate medical care.
“I don’t want any mother to have to go through what we’ve been through these last 24 days,” she said. “I watched the video today and am worried. Rimon was without glasses. She couldn’t see for 24 days.” Could. She needs glasses.”
The short video is the second hostage message released by Hamas, following a previous clip of 21-year-old Franco-Israeli woman Mia Schem, which was released on October 17.
According to Israeli officials, at least 239 hostages, including both Israelis and foreigners, were held by Hamas during the attack.
The presence of hostages in Gaza has complicated the ground operation launched by Israeli forces last week, following an intensified campaign of air strikes that has killed more than 8,000 Palestinians.
Four hostages have been released so far, but efforts to secure additional releases through coordinated back channel efforts by Qatar appear to have been halted after the ground operation began.
Israeli forces operating in Gaza also claimed to have freed a captured soldier, officials said on Monday.
