An Islamic terror group grimly offered to release two captives once the “appropriate measures are met” after releasing a video of the young boy and an elderly woman.
A spokesperson for Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said the two captives could be released once certain conditions were met to protect the residents of the Gaza Strip, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“This initiative will be in effect once appropriate measures are met, security-wise and on the field, which provides protection for the Palestinian people,” he said.
Hanna Katzir, 77, and Yagil Yaakov, 12, both of Kibbutz Nir Oz, were kidnapped on Oct. 7, the day Hamas attacked Israel.
Katzir appeared in a video where she pleaded to be released.
“I miss my home my children, my husband Rami, and all my dear family. I am sending regards, telling you I love you. I hope I will succeed in seeing you next week,” the 77-year-old said in the video.
Katzir, who was filmed sitting in a wheelchair, said she hopes her family is “happy and healthy” and “strong.”
Yaakov said he missed his family and friends “like crazy” and “I love you all.”
Both hostages condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Katzir saying: “I think that who is responsible for this and for us fighting amongst ourselves is Bibi Netanyahu. Because of him, our children were killed. He has made a lot of mistakes and it has impacted on our society, and that of others.”
The preteen echoed a similar statement, telling the Prime Minster that “all these explosions are crazy.”
“You are killing us hostages. You don’t return the water, the electricity, or medication. We as hostages also need this,” he said, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The video was released through unofficial channels and has since started to float around US social media.
A militant said in the video that Katzir was being released because they couldn’t “give her any medical treatment due to a shortage of medicine and fuel and electricity.”
He also said Kaakov – who was kidnapped alongside his father and brother – would be released for “humanitarian issues because of his young age.” It is unknown if the rest of his family will be released.
The vast majority of hostages are being held by Hamas, but PIJ – a smaller militant group in Gaza that is allied to the territory’s ruling movement – has said previously it held at least 30 captives.
Hamas has released four captives, including two Americans.
The Israel Defense Force recently released a video of Hamas terrorists disguising themselves as IDF soldiers and kidnapping a man at gunpoint.
The video was taken from GoPros worn by the terrorists during the October 7 terrorist attack. The man is a Muslim Bedouin from the Negev desert, The Sun reports.
With Post wires.