Disturbing new video released by Palestinian terrorists Monday shows a gaunt-looking Israeli hostage sobbing at times and criticizing Israel’s prime minister while begging for a new round of prisoner exchanges.
Farmer Elad Katzir, 47, appears in the propaganda footage released by the Islamic Jihad, identifying himself as one of the dozens of Israelis kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7 and saying he was in the group’s custody as of Jan. 5.
In the video, Katzi blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his now-months-long captivity in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported.
Katzi’s mother Hanna was freed in November’s truce deal, while his father died in the Oct. 7 slaughter.
“Bibi Netanyahu, my message is to you and all members of the cabinet. You have abandoned me,” Katzir said in the footage.
“I was close to dying more than once, it’s a miracle I’m still alive,” he added. “I want to tell my family that I love them very much and I miss them very much.”
The hostage could also be seen weeping as he claimed to have witnessed the death of his friend, Tamir Adar, a service member who was wounded during the Hamas invasion and taken hostage.
Adar’s mother, Yael, confirmed his death Saturday, condemning Israel’s response Oct. 7 as the reason to why her son was injured and captured while serving in Nir Oz’ emergency squad.
Katzir also called on Israel to cease the fighting in Gaza and agree to a new wave of hostage exchanges that would see the freedom of the more than 130 people being held by Hamas.
This is now Katzir’s second time being featured in an Islamic Jihad propaganda video, with the farmer being previously shown making similar comments last month alongside fellow hostage Gadi Mozes.
Appearing to speak under duress in the Dec. 20 video, both Katzir and Mozes were shown pleading with the Israel Defense Forces that they could die at any moment over Israeli’s constant bombardments in Gaza.
Israeli officials have condemned the hostage videos released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad as propaganda and “psychological warfare.”
As of Monday, there remained little evidence to suggest that Hamas and Israel will renew hostage negotiations after talks broke down last week.
Qatari negotiators said Hamas put the talks on hold after an Israeli drone strike killed its deputy leader abroad, Saleh al-Arouri, in Beirut.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet with officials in Israel on Tuesday after holding meetings in Qatar in hopes of renewing the hostage negotiation deals and preventing the war in Gaza from spreading in the Middle East.
With Post wires
