Hamas Releases Video of Israeli Hostage Urging Ceasefire Agreement Implementation

Hamas has released a video featuring an Israeli hostage, confirming he is alive and directly addressing his family while urging the Israeli government to move forward with the second phase ceasefire agreement of the Gaza.

The video, which surfaced on Friday, shows the hostage identifying himself and making a plea for authorities to adhere to the next stage of the truce. The first phase of the ceasefire ended last weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

While Israel has expressed a preference to extend the initial phase until mid-April, Hamas remains firm on advancing to the second phase, which it claims would lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Independent verification of the video’s authenticity has yet to be confirmed. News agencies, including AFP, have withheld the hostage’s identity until official confirmation from his family is obtained.

According to Israeli sources, 251 hostages were taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which triggered the ongoing conflict. Of these, 58 remain in Gaza, with Israeli military officials stating that 34 are presumed dead.

The development adds pressure to ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas, as mediators push for a long-term resolution to the war.