Hamas Releases Video of Two Israeli Hostages, Claims They Survived Air Raid

Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, released a video on Saturday showing two Israeli hostages reportedly alive in Gaza. In the clip, lasting over two minutes, one man is seen with a bandaged cheek and the other with a bandaged hand, discussing their survival during an alleged Israeli airstrike. This release comes a day after Israeli forces launched a ground offensive in Gaza City’s Shujaiya area, aimed at expanding their security zone, according to reports.

Hamas has claimed that the increased military actions threaten the lives of hostages. Since the onset of hostilities on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants captured a total of 251 hostages during an attack on Israel, the situation has escalated. Currently, 58 hostages remain in captivity, with the Israeli military asserting that 34 of them are presumed dead. Previously, a short ceasefire led to the release of 33 hostages, eight of whom were confirmed dead.

The authenticity of the video remains unverified, and the situation in Gaza continues to be fluid as military actions persist.