Two Israeli hostages, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel, appeared in a video released by Hamas on Friday, September 5. Both were abducted during the October 2023 music festival and are among the 48 people still being held in Gaza.
The video showed Gilboa-Dalal appearing exhausted as he said he was being held in Gaza City along with others, expressing fear of being killed in the ongoing Israeli offensive targeting the city.
The video appeared to be edited and showed Gilboa-Dalal in the backseat of a car. He referred to locations outside the window, including what he claimed to be a Red Cross building. The footage was dated August 28, though the exact time of filming could not be independently verified, according to a Reuters report. Ohel was also seen briefly in the video.
The hostages were taken when Palestinian militants crossed into southern Israel in a large-scale attack in 2023 that left around 1,200 Israelis dead. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which local health authorities say has killed over 64,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across the territory.
Today, Hamas released another propaganda video of two hostages, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel.
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) September 5, 2025
Guy and Alon were brutally kidnapped on October 7 and have been held hostage for 700 days in unimaginable conditions.
This video is the latest reminder of the urgency of the… pic.twitter.com/ONyssPeZo5
Gaza City has become the centre of Israeli military operations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering a renewed push to capture it. The Israeli army said this week it has gained control over approximately 40 percent of the city and 75 percent of the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, the military bombed a high-rise building in the western part of Gaza City, claiming it was being used by Hamas. The building collapsed after the strike, with thick smoke covering nearby areas. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 30 Palestinians were killed across Gaza on the same day, including 20 in Gaza City.
Residents in Gaza continue to face intense bombardment, with some families reporting heavy explosions and gunfire near their neighbourhoods. Many have remained in place out of fear that they would not be able to return if they fled.
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The release of the video comes amid growing pressure in Israel to secure the hostages’ freedom. Weekly protests have been taking place, and a public gathering was held in Tel Aviv on Friday to mark 700 days since the hostages were taken.
Meanwhile, videos of hostages have drawn criticism internationally, with human rights groups describing such releases as psychological warfare and a violation of international law.
Diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages have been ongoing but stalled since July. Previous releases happened during a temporary ceasefire through negotiations involving the United States and Arab countries. While Israeli opposition parties have urged a resumption of talks, far-right leaders within the Israeli government have instead called for a complete military takeover of Gaza.
However, Israel’s defence officials have warned that further escalation could endanger the hostages. Hamas has said it would be willing to release some of the hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces, while Israel continues to push for a complete surrender of the group and the return of all hostages.
The Israeli military has stated that operations will intensify until Hamas meets these demands.
