Watch | ‘Tomorrow We’ll Tell You Their Fate’: Hamas Releases Video of Hostages with Chilling Warning

Hamas released video footage claiming that hostages are alive in its custody in Gaza while also pointing out that many of the hostages were likely to have been killed recently. Abu Obeida, Hamas spokesman, blamed Israel for the deaths and accused the Israeli government of lying to its people as protests demanding release of hostages grew across Israel.

“The enemy’s leadership and army bear full responsibility,” he said in a televised statement, according to AFP. In the video, one woman – who was identified as Noa Argamani – and two men – Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky – appear, talking in Hebrew, calling on the Israeli authorities to act for their return home. It was unclear when the footage was filmed.

The 37-second video ended with the chyron: “Tomorrow we will inform you of their fate”.

Hamas said that it lost contact with the hostages after Israeli airstrikes but Israel claims that the autopsies that it has conducted on the hostages show causes of death inconsistent with Hamas’ account that they had died in air strikes, according to Hagar Mizrahi, a forensic official with Israel’s health ministry.

Bring Them Back Home Now

The Israeli government has followed a policy of not responding directly or via media outlets to these videos, claiming that these tactics are psychological warfare.

But the Netanyahu-led government is facing pressure from the kin of the hostages and the Israeli public to secure their release as both sides marked the 100th day of the Israel-Hamas war.

Out of the 240 people seized by Hamas during the October 7 cross-border killing spree that sparked the war, around half were released in a November truce. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza and that 25 of them have died in captivity.

The kin of the hostages are holding rallies, protests and events to ensure that the Israeli government does not shift focus away from those kidnapped. Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut labour union, responded to a request by the kin of those held hostage and agreed to observe a 100-minute strike.

Hundreds of outlets, shops, restaurants and businesses in Israel came to a standstill across the country. Israeli online gaming giant Playtika, Teva Pharmaceuticals, the Aviv real estate and construction group, Israeli investment house Altshuler Shaham, Israel Bar Association and The Teachers Association took part in the solidarity act.

At least 300,000 people visited Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday and Sunday to mark 100 days of captivity of those held hostages and show solidarity with their families.

The families as well protesters warned the government that that time was running out to save the hostages and expressed their disappointment with the rescue process.