American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, 64, has been seen alive in a recent video released by the militant group Hamas after over 200 days in captivity. The video also shows Israeli hostage Omri Miran, 46, who has been held captive for 202 days. Both hostages are looking for a deal that would allow them to return home.
Siegel was abducted on October 7 along with his wife, Aviva, who was later released during a ceasefire and hostage deal in November. The video, which is undated, suggests it was filmed recently as Siegel mentions the Passover holiday. Miran, in the video, expresses his distress at being held captive for 202 days.
This is the first evidence released by Hamas proving that Siegel is still alive. Earlier, another American-Israeli hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, appeared in a video criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not rescuing hostages in Gaza.
The videos released by Hamas are considered to be a form of psychological warfare by Israel. It is believed that the hostages are being coerced into making these statements as negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel are ongoing.
Hamas has stated that it is willing to release the hostages if Israel agrees to a ceasefire. At the same time, they are trying to avoid a full-scale invasion of Rafah, where 1.4 million people are seeking refuge. The situation remains delicate as both parties navigate the complexities of the hostage crisis and the ongoing conflict.
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