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Hamas on Saturday released a part of a new video on Saturday showing two hostages who have been held captive in Gaza for 547 days. According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, one of the men is Maxim Herkin — whose voice has been identified by his family — while the other is Bar Kupershtein.
Herkin’s relatives confirmed: “We recognized his voice,” but asked that no images or clips from the video be published. The full video is expected to be released later following the families' approval.
There are currently 59 hostages still held in Gaza, 24 of whom are classified as alive. Signs of life have been received from 19 captives since the last hostage deal.
An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been briefed on the latest Hamas propaganda video. About a week and a half ago, Netanyahu met with the Kuperstein family and spoke with the Herkin family shortly before departing for Budapest.
"The families were informed of the video teaser by liaison officers and Israel’s hostage and missing persons coordinator, Gal Hirsch, is in contact with them," the official added.
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Kuperstein, 23, was abducted while working security at the Nova music festival. His family learned he had been taken after receiving a Telegram video showing him bound at the hands and feet, with a terrorist holding him by the neck as he shouted his own name.
Tuesday marked Bar’s 23rd birthday — his second in Hamas captivity. His father, Tal, who suffers from a medical condition that affects his speech, released a special video message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to focus all efforts on bringing the hostages home.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu, my name is Tal Kuperstein, father of the hostage Bar Kuperstein,” he said. “Today is Bar’s 23rd birthday — his second as a hostage of Hamas. He’s been away from us for over 540 days.
"We are anxious, in pain and heartbroken. Like many families, we feel we’ve been pushed down your and your government’s list of priorities, even though there’s no issue more urgent than bringing our loved ones home,” they said in the message.
Herkin, 36, from Tirat Carmel, was abducted from the Nova music festival near Re’im. Originally from Ukraine’s Donbas region, Herkin doesn’t hold Russian citizenship but his daughter lives in Russia. After his abduction, his mother was granted Russian citizenship as well. Russia has since approached Hamas requesting his release.
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk said during a visit to Moscow that Herkin’s release would be addressed as part of negotiations for the second phase of a hostage deal. He added that Hamas is willing to place Herkin “at the top of the priority list.”