Hamas released on Monday a video showing three hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip, in which one of them criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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It is unclear where, when, and under what conditions the video, in which the captives presumably spoke, was recorded.
Prime Minister Netanyahu labeled the act as a "cruel psychological warfare campaign by Hamas-ISIS." Addressing the hostages, he said, "I embrace you. Our hearts are with all the captives. We are doing everything to bring everyone back home."
He identified the woman as Elena Trufanova, who holds a Russian passport. Her husband, Vitaliy Trufanov, was murdered by the Hamas terrorists in their massacre on October 7 and is set to be laid to rest on Tuesday. Their son, Alexander (Sasha) Trufanov, and his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, were abducted from Nir Oz while on a weekend visit with his parents, as was Trufanova's 73-year-old mother, Irena Tati.
Daniela Aloni, 45, from Yavne, was visiting her sister at Kibbutz Nir Oz with her 5-year-old daughter, Emilia, when the Hamas attack occurred. In messages she sent to a friend from the home’s safe room, she described attackers as being "all over the house, setting it on fire and shooting." Reports also suggest that other members of her family, the Konios, were also abducted to Gaza.
The third woman is Rimon Kirsht, 36, from Kibbutz Nirim who was abducted with her husband Yagev Buchstab. Contact with the couple was lost in the morning hours and when Yagev's parents were able to reach their apartment he found it riddled with bullets but empty of its residents including their five dogs and three cats.
Aloni's father Ramos said in a press conference held by the families of captives that his heart stopped when he saw his daughter. "We are relieved to see that she is alive," he said. "I know the Emir of Qatar is involved in efforts to release the hostages and we ask him to continue his efforts."
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Ramos, father of Daniela Aloni who appeared in a video released by her Hamas captors
(Photo: Moti Kimchi)
Esther Borochov, whose son Yagev was abducted with Buchshtab from Nirim said the whole world must know what the prime minister and defense minister are doing to secure the release of hostages. "These are crimes against humanity," she said. "We want to thank the citizens of Israel for giving us strength. Don't leave us alone. Keep supporting and giving us strength until all the hostages are home safe," she said.
Speaking at the start of the cabinet meeting Netanyahu said the efforts to release the hostages continue even during the ground maneuver, which he said may present opportunities to achieve their release, which Israel will not miss.
"This battle will take time, will be marred by obstacles and loss of life but there will also be surprises and when it ends, I promise you one thing: Hamas will be beaten and Gaza will not be the same. For this we need time and to ensure we have time, we must receive international support," he said.
The prime minister said he is in daily contact with U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli teams are in constant contact with their American counterparts. "We are making clear that we are fighting their war as well as ours because if Hamas is not defeated, the axis of evil wins and the free world loses, the West, the Arab world, everyone loses and the threat to humanity will be great."
Earlier on Monday, Israeli tanks were sighted in the Zeitoun neighborhood on the outskirts of Gaza City. IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in his daily briefing that the military was expanding its ground operation within the Gaza Strip.
"Over the past day, we have expanded ground activities, with additional forces entering the Gaza Strip including Infantry, Armored Corps, Combat Engineering and Artillery Corps. Through integrated strikes of the Ground Forces and the IAF, dozens of terrorists were eliminated last night who had barricaded themselves in buildings and attempted to attack the forces that were moving in their direction," he said.
"We maneuver on the ground, identify the terrorists, and strike from the air. Ground forces are also directly engaging terrorists. The fighting is being carried out in the Gaza Strip. We are constantly assessing the situation and progressing gradually according to our operational plans. The offensive activity will continue with determination and intensify according to the phases of the war and its goals."
He added that returning the hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian terrorist groups was "a supreme national mission"
"Our ground activity in the Gaza Strip serves, among other things, this purpose," he said. "The issue of the hostages is not only a national issue. It is a global issue. Children, women and the elderly, Israelis, and other nationalities are being held by a murderous organization that committed a war crime, committed a crime against humanity of unimaginable proportions."