A propaganda video featuring three Israeli hostages from Kibbutz Nir Oz was released by Hamas on Monday, drawing condemnation from Israeli officials and fueling concerns among family members and the public about those still held captive in Gaza.
The video, which was released on Telegram, depicts three elderly men sitting side-by-side in an unmarked room. They are heavily bearded and appear malnourished. It is unknown when exactly the video was filmed, but based on their physical state, it seems that they have been in captivity for some time.
In a briefing on Monday evening, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called the broadcast “an atrocious terror video, demonstrating Hamas’ cruelty towards elderly, innocent civilians in need of medical care.”
The individuals were identified as Amiram Cooper, Chaim Peri, and Yoram Metzger, aged 85, 79, and 80 years old, respectively. All three of the hostages are residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, having been taken captive along with some 237 others during Hamas’ October 7 incursion into southern Israel, in which an additional 1,200 were murdered.
Only Peri, who is seated in between the two other men, speaks during the video. Peri, speaking to the camera, says that he and the other older hostages are “suffering greatly in very harsh conditions.” Peri allegedly tried to rebuff the invading Hamas militants from his home but eventually capitulated, so his wife, Osnat, was able to hide and avoid capture. He is described as being involved in peace activism.
Yoram Metzger’s son, Roni, spoke to the press about his father, telling Kan News that his father, who is diabetic, appears to have lost a lot of weight and “is not in a good condition.” He adds that “everything must be done to bring [the hostages] home.”
Kibbutz Nir Oz published a statement on Monday recognizing the community’s relief to see signs the men are still alive while also insisting to the government that pursuing a new hostage deal “through any potential negotiation avenue is urgently required.”
Referring to the accidental killing of three Israeli hostages in Gaza by IDF troops, the statement underscored the deteriorating situation, especially for older individuals. It called on U.S. Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, currently visiting Israel, to facilitate their prompt return to their families.
Austin arrived in the country on Monday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of Israel’s war cabinet.
While Austin’s visit was publicly centered on the US’ desire for Israel to adjust its military tactics to reduce civilian deaths and the need for additional aid to be allowed into the enclave, in Europe, Mossad chief David Barnea, and CIA director Bill Burns reportedly met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Warsaw to further talks on a new hostage deal.