The military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group published a video Tuesday of Israeli hostages Gadi Mozes and Elad Katzir, in which they call on Israel’s leadership to urgently act to bring about their release.
Katzir and Mozes were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, and a recent video has emerged as the initial indication of their well-being.
Appearing to speak under coercion, both individuals are featured in separate clips, conveying a grim message that their lives are in imminent danger as a result of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrikes in Gaza. The footage raises concerns about the safety and well-being of the hostages amid the ongoing conflict.
Efrat, Mozes’s wife, tragically lost her life on October 7. In a previous release deal, Katzir’s mother, Hanna, was kidnapped but later freed; however, his father, Rami, was not as fortunate and was murdered.
It’s noteworthy that many Israeli media outlets refrain from publishing such videos out of respect for the families of those abducted and to avoid inadvertently supporting the psychological warfare tactics employed by terrorist groups. This decision reflects a sensitivity to the impact on the affected families and a commitment to ethical reporting practices. The military wing
Yair Mozes, Mozes’s son, expressed the family’s relief at the first sign of life since his father’s abduction but noted a significant change in his appearance.
“Dad is really skinny, you can see he is exhausted,” Yair Mozes shared with the Ynet news site. He described how his father, who is typically characterized by frequent smiles and alertness, appeared fatigued with noticeable bags under his eyes. Yair expressed concern about his father’s physical condition, emphasizing that it is apparent he is not in good health.
The younger Mozes also raised suspicions about the authenticity of the words spoken in the video, suggesting that his father may have been coerced or manipulated into delivering a message that wasn’t his own. Despite these challenges, Yair expressed hope for a new agreement that would lead to the release of the hostages, underscoring the family’s desire for a positive resolution to the ongoing situation.