In a recent development, the armed wing of the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad in Gaza has released a video showcasing an elderly woman and a young boy who were among the 240 hostages seized during an attack on Israel on October 7th. The group stated that they are willing to release the two hostages for humanitarian and medical reasons, but did not provide any further details. Israel has not yet responded to this announcement.
According to the Israeli military, the Gaza-based Palestinian militants kidnapped these hostages during their assault on southern Israeli communities, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,400 Israelis and foreigners. While the majority of the hostages are believed to be held by Hamas, a larger militant group in Gaza, Islamic Jihad, a smaller faction allied with the ruling movement in Gaza, previously claimed to be holding at least 30 captives.
In the released video, the elderly woman expressed her longing for her children, hoping to see them soon. She reassured everyone that they were in good health and spirits, wishing for happiness all around. Seated in a wheelchair, her poignant words conveyed the emotional toll that being held hostage has taken on her.
This video marks the third time that Gaza militants have released footage of the hostages. So far, four captives have been freed, including a pair of 85-year-old women who returned to Israel on October 23rd.
The situation continues to unfold, and further updates are expected. Reporting on this story was done by Nidal Al Mughrabi, Emily Rose, Yomna Ehab, Enas Alashray, and Jana Choukier, with writing by Crispian Balmer, and editing by Mark Heinrich.
