The Hamas terrorist group released a video Tuesday showing Hisham al-Sayed, one of two Israeli men held by the terrorist group in the Gaza Strip in poor medical condition – the first hostage image seen in years.
In the video, al-Sayed can be seen attached to an oxygen mask. The footage is undated, but appears to be recent, as a conference was held on June 21 on the Arab channel of Al Jazeera, which is visible behind the Israeli hostage.
The video also shows al-Sayed’s Israeli ID card.
The Hamas military said Monday night that “the health of one of his Israeli prisoners has deteriorated” after years of repeated attempts to reach an agreement to exchange prisoners between the two countries.
Al-Sayed, an Israeli Bedouin, volunteered for the Gaza Strip in 2015. His family says he suffers from a mental illness.
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The footage is the first time his family has seen detainee Al-Sayed in seven years. The long silence made them fear that their son had died while being captured by Hamas.
“This is the first time I have seen his face in seven years. This helped us calm down. He was taking medication and I hope they will give it to him, “his father, Shaaban al-Sayed, told Channel 12.
He turned to Hamas, saying: “Release him immediately. He is ill and needs medical attention at all times. “
ה עתיעוד להישאם אסייד המוחזק בידי החמאס pic.twitter.com/kHfZVM3hKl
– Jack khoury (@KhJacki) June 28, 2022
Al-Mayadin, a Lebanese television network, said on Tuesday that Hamas was ready to hold an “emergency humanitarian exchange of prisoners” to exchange al-Sayed for the release of all sick Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. Al-Mayadin is considered close to the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
Hamas’s announced request is a clear departure from the Islamist group’s usual approach to the talks. Hamas has often wanted the release of prisoners only as proof of footage from life. The terrorist group released the footage on Tuesday without publicly demanding anything from Israel.
The list of sick Palestinians includes many convicted of serious security breaches, including Nasser Abu Hmeid, a Palestinian prisoner with cancer who organized terrorist attacks during the Second Intifada.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s cabinet called Hamas’ decision to distribute al-Sayed’s footage a “desperate and hated act.”
In a statement, Hamas falsely called Al-Sayed, as well as Israel’s second prisoner, Avera Mengistu, as soldiers.
“Hisham al-Sayed is not a soldier, but a mentally ill Israeli citizen who crossed the border into the Gaza Strip,” a statement from the prime minister’s office said.
Foreign Minister Jair Lapid called the footage evidence that Hamas was a “presidential terrorist organization.” Lapid called on the World Health Organization and the Red Cross to condemn Hamas for its “inhuman behavior.”
“Israel holds Hamas directly responsible for the plight of civilians it detains in violation of international law. “These are two mentally ill people, and holding them captive for years is an act of unimaginable cruelty,” Lapid said.
Defense Minister Benny Ganz said the video’s credibility was “in question” and “intended for extortion.”
The terrorist group is currently holding two living Israelis – Mengistu and al-Sayed – and is believed to be holding the bodies of two Israeli soldiers: Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin.
Channel 12 reported that Israel had sent messages to Hamas through various channels stating that it would hold the terrorist group accountable if the health of any of its captives deteriorated.
Israel is working to secure the return of the two living men and the two bodies through a prisoner exchange agreement with the terrorist group. Egyptian intelligence, which maintains close ties with both Israel and Hamas, often serves as a key mediator.
A Cannes public broadcaster said Tuesday night that Israel was considering turning to other mediators to resume stalled talks. Bennett’s office accused Hamas of “cutting off any chance” of a prisoner exchange deal.
Both Mengistu and Al-Sayed had a history of mental illness. The two Israeli citizens voluntarily crossed the Gaza Strip between 2014 and 2015 and have been held captive by Hamas ever since.
Avera Mengistu (left) and Hisham al-Sayed. (Flash90 / Courtesy)
The two soldiers, Shaul and Goldin, were killed during the 2014 Gaza war. Both families have repeatedly appealed to the Israeli government to push for a prisoner exchange deal to obtain their children’s bodies.
Israel and Hamas have held indirect talks in an attempt to reach an agreement on the exchange of prisoners. A similar deal to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas has freed 1,027 Palestinian prisoners from security, many of whom have been convicted of terrorism.
The 2011 exchange to secure Shalit’s release was deeply controversial, with many in the Israeli security services at the time claiming it was unilateral in favor of Hamas. Many of the 1,027 prisoners released later returned to terror, such as Yahya Sinuar, who now serves as governor of Hamas’ Gaza.
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