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Hamas Video of Israeli Captive Is Attempt To Pressure Israel Toward Swap Deal
Sanaa Alswerky
January 18, 2023

A video released by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claiming to show Avera Mengistu, an Israeli citizen being held captive in the Gaza Strip since 2014, has sparked controversy over its timing and motivations. The Prime Minister’s Office in Israel said hours after the video was made public early on Monday that the government is investing all of its resources to release the captives held in Gaza Strip, but it did not say that it had been able to verify the video’s authenticity. The video was released on the same day as the swearing in of the new chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi. READ MORE