Latest news with #Israeli-Hungarian
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamas Releases Video Showing Israeli Hostage Marking His Birthday
Hamas's armed wing released a video showing an Israeli-Hungarian hostage walking through a tunnel in Gaza and lighting a candle to mark his birthday. In the nearly three-minute clip published by the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the hostage -- who identifies himself as Omri Miran -- addresses the camera in Hebrew. His family confirmed his identity in a statement issued through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, while requesting that the media refrain from publishing the footage. AFP was unable to verify when the footage was recorded, but in it, Miran says he is marking his 48th birthday, which fell on April 11. He is initially shown walking through a tunnel, then seated on a mattress in a confined space, acknowledging protesters in Israel who have been demonstrating against the government and demanding the hostages' release. He states that hostages are living in constant fear of bombings and urges a deal be reached as soon as possible to secure their release, adding that he missed his wife and daughters. "On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, when we say 'never again,' an Israeli citizen cries out for help from Hamas's tunnels," his family said in a statement. "It is a moral failure for the state of Israel. Our Omri is strong and will not break, but our hearts are broken," the family added. "We will continue to fight until Omri returns to us, and especially to his two daughters who are waiting with all their hearts to hold him again." He previously appeared in an undated video released by Hamas on April 27, 2024. In that footage he urged his family to pressure the Israeli government to strike a deal with Hamas on freeing the hostages. During their attack on October 7, Hamas militants abducted 251 hostages and took them to Gaza. Of those, 58 are still being held there, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Hamas releases video showing Israeli hostage marking his 48th birthday
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Hamas's armed wing released a video Wednesday showing an Israeli-Hungarian hostage walking through a tunnel in Gaza and lighting a candle to mark his birthday. In the nearly three-minute clip published by the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the hostage – who identifies himself as Omri Miran – addresses the camera in Hebrew. His family confirmed his identity in a statement issued through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, while requesting that the media refrain from publishing the footage. AFP was unable to verify when the footage was recorded, but in it, Miran says he is marking his 48th birthday, which fell on April 11. He is initially shown walking through a tunnel, then seated on a mattress in a confined space, acknowledging protesters in Israel who have been demonstrating against the government and demanding the hostages' release. He states that hostages are living in constant fear of bombings and urges a deal be reached as soon as possible to secure their release, adding that he missed his wife and daughters. "On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, when we say 'never again,' an Israeli citizen cries out for help from Hamas's tunnels," his family said in a statement. "It is a moral failure for the state of Israel. Our Omri is strong and will not break, but our hearts are broken," the family added. "We will continue to fight until Omri returns to us, and especially to his two daughters who are waiting with all their hearts to hold him again." During the Oct 7, 2023 attack by Hamas fighters on Israel, Miran was seized from his home in kibbutz Nahal Oz in front of his wife Lichay Miran-Lavi and their two small daughters. He previously appeared in an undated video released by Hamas on April 27, 2024. In that footage he urged his family to pressure the Israeli government to strike a deal with Hamas on freeing the hostages. After seeing that video of a bearded Miran, apparently unable to shave, his father Dani Miran told AFP he was letting his own beard grow in solidarity.
News24
23-04-2025
- Politics
- News24
Palestinian president Abbas urges Hamas to hand over Gaza hostages
Mahmoud Abbas urged Hamas to release hostages, blaming them for escalating Israeli attacks on Gaza. Abbas accused Hamas of undermining Palestinian unity and prolonging the suffering of their people. Hamas released a video showing Israeli-Hungarian hostage Omri Miran alive, urging a deal for hostage release. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged the militant group Hamas on Wednesday to release the hostages still being held in Gaza, calling it the main factor fuelling Israeli attacks on the territory. "Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages," Abbas said at a meeting in Ramallah. "I'm the one paying the price; our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over." "Every day, there are deaths. Why? Because they (Hamas) refuse to hand over the American hostage," said the Palestinian leader, referring to Edan Alexander, who was reportedly on a list of hostages Israel had asked to be freed in a proposal that was recently rejected by Hamas. "You sons of dogs, hand over what you have and get us out of this" ordeal, he added, levelling a harsh Arabic epithet at Hamas. Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, condemned Abbas's remarks, calling them "insulting". "Abbas continues to describe a significant and integral part of his own people using derogatory language," Naim said. Abbas repeatedly and suspiciously lays the blame for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our people. Ties between Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas have been marked by deep political and ideological divisions for nearly two decades. Abbas and his Palestinian Authority have often accused Hamas of undermining Palestinian unity, while Hamas has criticised the president for collaborating with Israel and cracking down on dissent in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Hamas' armed wing released a video on Wednesday showing an Israeli-Hungarian hostage alive in Gaza, speaking in Hebrew and walking through a tunnel. In the nearly three-minute clip published by the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the hostage - who identifies himself as 48-year-old Omri Miran - is seen addressing the camera. Israeli media confirmed his identity. AFP was unable to verify when the footage was recorded. In the video, Miran is also shown sitting in a confined space, acknowledging protesters in Israel who have been demonstrating against the government and demanding the hostages' release. He says that hostages are living in constant fear of bombings and urges a deal be reached as soon as possible to secure their release.
