Hamas released a video on Saturday featuring two hostages: Keith Siegel, who holds both American and Israeli citizenship, and Omri Miran from Israel.
In the footage, Siegel, seemingly under coercion, appeals to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to engage in negotiations with Hamas for their release. This marks the first appearance of Siegel in a video since he and his wife were abducted by Hamas from their residence in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7.
CNN has not been able to authenticate the time or location of the video’s recording. However, the hostages mentioned their inability to observe the Jewish holiday of Passover, which concludes on Tuesday. Miran expressed this sentiment.
“I have been here for 202 days,” which suggests the video was filmed on Thursday.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment.
This is the second hostage video released by Hamas in recent days. Last Wednesday, the group released a video featuring Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7.
In the video, which lacks a specific date, Goldberg-Polin is depicted with a portion of his left arm missing, several inches above the hand.
The latest footage from Hamas prompted a response from Siegel’s family in a video released on Saturday by the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters.
“Keith, I love you, we will fight until you return,” said his wife Aviva, who was released in November as part of the last hostage deal after 51 days in captivity.
“Seeing my father today only emphasizes to all of us how much we must reach a deal as soon as possible and bring everyone home,” his daughter, Ilan, said. “I demand that the leaders of this country watch this video and see (our) father crying out for help.”
The hostage forum called the proof of life of Siegel and Miran “the clearest evidence that the Israeli government must do everything to approve a deal for the return of all the hostages before Independence Day (May 14). The living should return for rehabilitation, and the murdered should receive a dignified burial,” the group said in a statement.
“Now is the time for the government and its leader to prove through actions their commitment to the citizens of Israel who await the return of the hostages. The Israeli government must not miss this opportunity to bring them all home!” the statement added.
On October 7, Hamas militants forcibly entered the residence of Omri Miran, his wife, and their two daughters at Nahal Oz Kibbutz. Miran was taken captive, but fortunately, his family members survived the ordeal.