Hamas releases new hostage video as pressure grows for Israel to reach deal

livemint.com:

TEL AVIV—Hamas released a video of two further hostages, including an American-Israeli citizen, in a move that appeared to be designed to increase pressure on the Israeli government to reach a cease-fire deal as anticipation grows for a large Israeli offensive in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza. In the three-minute video, U.S. citizen Keith Siegel, 64 years old, and Omri Miran, 47, urged the Israeli government to come to an agreement with the militant group to free them.

Protests in Israel for the government to do more to free the remaining captives seized on Oct. 7 have been growing in recent weeks, and Hamas has been releasing videos of some of the prisoners to add to the pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. In the video released Saturday, Siegel and Miran, who wore black shirts and were placed against a gray background, appeared pale and thin after more than six months in captivity.

Siegel broke down in tears as he spoke, describing how he found the protests to free him in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem encouraging. He also called on demonstrators to continue to apply pressure on the Israeli government and called on the country’s leaders to “participate in the negotiations to reach a deal soon." It wasn’t clear when the video was filmed, but Miran said he had been held for 202 days, indicating it had been shot recently. “It’s time to reach a deal that will get us out alive, whole and healthy," said Miran, addressing his words to the Israeli government and people.

“I want you to do everything you can and push in every possible way." Siegel was taken hostage on Oct. 7, with his wife from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Siegel’s wife, Aviva, was freed as part of a cease-fire deal in November and has