Elad Katzir, an Israeli farmer held hostage in Gaza for over three months, was seen pleading for his freedom in a video posted on-line by Palestinian group Islamic Jihad on Monday.
Hamas, which guidelines Gaza, and its smaller rival Islamic Jihad, have periodically launched movies of hostages taken throughout Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border rampage into southern Israel.
“I used to be near dying greater than as soon as, it is a miracle I am nonetheless alive,” Katzir stated, a black and yellow Islamic Jihad flag hung from a wall behind him. “I wish to inform my household that I like them very a lot and I miss them very a lot,” he stated, earlier than pausing to choke again tears.
Sometimes, hostage movies have been filmed in entrance of a wall in poor lighting, with captives reciting calls for his or her launch. The boys, like Katzir within the newest video, typically have full beards. The Israeli army has stated the movies quantity to “psychological terror”.
Greater than 130 hostages stay in Gaza, most believed to be in Hamas arms, after greater than 100 have been launched throughout a short-lived truce in late November.
Israel says it is going to press on with its devastating army offensive in Gaza till Hamas is worn out, all captives are freed and the Palestinian enclave poses no extra safety risk. Hamas has stated it is going to free no extra hostages not less than till Israel halts the conflict.
Katzir, 47, was snatched by militants from the agricultural kibbutz of Nir Oz. His father was killed in his residence there throughout Hamas’ incursion and his mom was additionally taken hostage. She was amongst these later freed through the truce. Katzir appeared in an analogous video from captivity final month.
Katzir was interviewed by Reuters in 2018 whereas working within the fields and spoke concerning the risk he and his neighbours felt from Hamas throughout the close by border in Gaza.
“There’s a likelihood {that a} sniper from the opposite aspect is watching me and I am already in his sights,” Katzir stated on the time. “As an alternative of caring for the welfare of individuals in Gaza they cope with terror and in the best way to hurt us.”
