Ahead of Israel’s major offensive in Gaza, the terror group Hamas released a video of hostages Alon Ohel and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, The Times of Israel reports. Ohel and Gilboa-Dalal were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023 – Ohel had not been seen up until this video, and Gilboa-Dala says in the clip that they are in Gaza City.
Gilboa-Dalal is shown with short hair, wearing a dark blue shirt, and displaying expressions of distress, placing his face in his hands. In part of the video, he appears to be sitting in the back seat of a car aboveground.
In remarks likely dictated to him by his captors, he pleads for his release.
“This is all we want, we just want it to end,” he says. “We want to return to our families. Please bring us back.”
Ohel’s family did not consent to the publication of any portions of the footage in which he can be seen.
Gilboa-Dalal was previously seen in a video that Hamas released in February wherein he and another hostage, Evyatar David, were forced by the terrorists to watch the release of other hostages during the ceasefire at the time.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called the propaganda videos “psychological terror” made to deter the mounting Gaza offensive that could bring about the end of Hamas’ horrific reign.
It’s been 700 days since the hostages’ kidnapping, and calls are coming from all around Israel to free them.
The IDF confirmed it had reached out to the hostage families, as it has done several times in the past, ahead of other major operations. The military said it intends to ensure no hostages are harmed during the offensive, but a military source told the Ynet news site, “It’s clear that the operation endangers them.”
“It’s hard to predict how Hamas will behave with the hostages, if they’ll guard them or if they’ll use them as a shield, or, God forbid, kill some of them as manipulation,” a military source told the outlet.
Israel finds itself at a major crossroads in the war against Hamas, which will reach its second-year next month. What comes next may determine the fate of the remaining hostages, stability of the region, and safety of Israel and her people. The Fellowship and its faithful supporters remain steadfast in their prayers for shalom (peace) for Israel, and for the safe return of the hostages.