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 approximately 240 hostages taken by gunmen during an attack on Israel on October 7th. The group stated that it is willing to release the two individuals for humanitarian and medical reasons, pending the fulfillment of certain conditions. However, no further details were provided. Israel has not yet made any statements regarding the matter.
According to the Israeli military, the Gaza-based Palestinian groups captured the hostages during an assault on southern Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of around 1,400 Israelis and foreigners. While the majority of the hostages are believed to be in the custody of Hamas, a larger group in Gaza that is aligned with the ruling movement, Islamic Jihad, a smaller group, has previously claimed to hold at least 30 captives.
In the video, the elderly woman expressed her longing for her children, stating, “I hope I will manage to see you next week. We are happy and healthy and we want everyone to be happy,” while seated in a wheelchair.
This video marks the third release of hostage footage by Gaza militants. So far, four captives have been freed, including a pair of 85-year-old women who returned to Israel on October 23rd. The release of the hostages is still awaiting a response.
