Hamas releases first video of alleged hostage

The Islamist Hamas released for the first time a video of an alleged hostage in the Gaza Strip. In a video distributed on Monday, it is possible to see a young woman with a wound on her bandaged arm and then speaking directly to the camera. “I’m 21 years old and I come from Shoham,” the woman says in the minute-long clip. She was currently in Gaza and was being treated at a hospital there. “Please get me out of here as soon as possible.”

It was unclear where, when and under what circumstances the video was recorded. According to media reports, this is an Israeli who also has French nationality. Thus, the woman was reported missing after the massacre perpetrated by Hamas terrorists in southern Israel.

A spokesman for Hamas’ military wing had previously said that between 200 and 250 people had been kidnapped in the Gaza Strip. 200 of them are under the control of Hamas, the remaining hostages are under the control of other militant factions in the coastal strip, the spokesman said in a video.

However, he stated that “foreigners are not prisoners, but rather guests in Gaza”. She would be released “as soon as current conditions end.” Consequently, Hamas is engaged in a prisoner exchange.

It is said that at least 22 of those abducted have already been killed in Israeli airstrikes. The information could not be independently verified.