‘Time is running out’: Hamas publishes more hostage videos

After publishing three videos of the executed captives over the last two days, Hamas today released the last messages of Carmel Gat, 40, and Alexander Lobanov, 32.

Hamas has published the last messages of executed hostages Carmel Gat and Alexander Lobanov. Picture: Telegram.

Hamas has published two more videos of hostages the militant group executed last week, as it attempts to increase pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire.

After publishing three videos of the murdered captives over the last two days, Hamas today released the last messages of Carmel Gat, 40, an occupational therapist from Tel Aviv and Alexander Lobanov, 32, a father of a two year old, who was abducted from the Nova music festival.

As in previous videos, Mr Lobanov and Ms Gat speak of the difficulties of their captivity “without food, water, cleaning materials” and accuse the Netanyahu government of abandoning them.

As each video ends, the sound of a ticking clock can be heard, with an hour glass filmed as the sand runs through it and the message: “Time is running out.’

Hamas also posted an image of a corpse in a body bag, with bullets and rockets aimed at it and the same message: “Time is running out.”

Hamas posted a picture of a corpse in a body bag on its Telegram channel. Picture: Telegram.

The shaft that led to the tunnel where the hostages’ bodies were found was discovered next to a children’s yard that contained dolls and murals of cartoon characters, Israel’s Channel 12 reports.

“This is another example of Hamas’s cynical use of civilian space for terrorist activity,” and Israeli Defence Forces spokesman told the broadcaster.

The shaft where the executed hostages were found was next to a children's play area. Picture: Channel 12.

As domestic and international pressure increase on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to come to a deal with Hamas to release the remaining hostages, he told reporters Israel could agree to leave the Philadelphi Corridor during a permanent ceasefire in Phase Two of a ceasefire deal but not in Phase One.

At a briefing for foreign media, Mr Netanyahu said: “We also agreed to begin discussions about a permanent ceasefire,” adding: “The conditions for a permanent ceasefire must include a situation where the Philadelphi Corridor cannot be perforated.”

The issue of Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt has become a key sticking point, with Mr Netanyahu arguing that if troops withdrew, Hamas would return to smuggling arms into Gaza. On Monday, after the funerals of the hostages, he vowed “not to give in to pressure” over the corridor.

Mr Netanyahu has also blamed Hamas for the failure of ceasefire negotiations, saying the group had rejected all elements of a proposal that would help facilitate the release of hostages.

“Hamas has rejected everything … I hope that changes because I want those hostages out,” he told reporters, casting doubt on the possibility of a breakthrough one day after the State Department said it was “time to finalise that deal”.

“We’re trying to find some area to begin the negotiations,” Mr Netanyahu said. “They (Hamas) refuse to do that … (They said) there’s nothing to talk about.”

Hamas, whose unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel started the war, is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from the area as part of the stalled talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

At Wednesday’s news conference, Netanyahu reiterated his position on the Philadelphi Corridor but also insisted it was not the sole sticking point.

Also unanswered, he said, were questions over how many Palestinian prisoners would be freed in exchange for hostages, whether Israel could veto the release of certain prisoners and where released prisoners should go.

“The whole thing has not been resolved,” he said.

With AFP