Hamas released new undated video footage on Saturday of two men— including an American citizen — held hostage in Gaza. The video shows the two men alive and was released on the Palestinian militant group's social media channel, which is regularly used by the group to publish propaganda videos.
The hostages seen on the video were identified as Omri Miran and Keith Siegel by the campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Both men were abducted by militants during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
In the statement, the campaign group said the video shows the hostages "for the first time after 204 days in captivity." CBS News can't verify the date of filming or the contents of the video, but the footage was posted on the channel where it has posted other videos showing hostages.
A U.S. official told CBS News that the FBI is reviewing the proof of life propaganda video released by Hamas, which features U.S. citizen hostage Siegel along with an Israeli hostage. The White House did not have advance notice of the Siegel video prior to its public release. U.S. officials are in contact with the Siegel family.
Five U.S. nationals are still missing and presumed to be hostages in Gaza, as confirmed by a U.S. official. Additionally, the remains of three other U.S. citizens are believed to be in the captors' possession. Recently, Hamas released a video featuring Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin delivering a statement that was clearly scripted by the group, coinciding with the Passover celebrations.
This marks the first time that Hamas has publicly shared a video of a U.S. citizen held captive. Subsequently, another video featuring Siegel was released on Saturday, making him the second U.S. citizen to appear in Hamas propaganda material. The family of Siegel expressed that this was the first video they had seen of the 64-year-old American since his abduction.
Following a temporary cease-fire in November, Aviva Siegel, the wife of Keith Siegel, who is not a U.S. citizen, was released by Hamas. This truce led to the release of approximately 100 hostages taken during the October 7 attack on Israel by the militant group. In exchange, around 210 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons.
It is estimated that Hamas and affiliated terror organizations are holding a total of 133 hostages in Gaza.
"The proof of life from Keith Siegel and Omri Miran is the clearest evidence that the Israeli government must do everything to approve a deal for the return of all the hostages before Independence Day. The living should return for rehabilitation, and the murdered should receive a dignified burial," stated the campaign group.
Local Business Sees Record Profits
A local business in the heart of the city has reported record profits for the third quarter of the year. The company, which specializes in sustainable products, saw a 20% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year.
According to the CEO, this growth can be attributed to a combination of increased demand for eco-friendly products and a successful marketing campaign that targeted a younger demographic. The company plans to reinvest a portion of the profits into expanding their product line and reaching new markets.
This news comes as a welcome surprise to many in the community, especially given the economic challenges brought on by the global pandemic. The company's success serves as a beacon of hope for other small businesses struggling to stay afloat in these uncertain times.
