Netanyahu calls new Hamas video of three abducted women "cruel propaganda"
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as "cruel psychological propaganda" the video released Monday by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas showing three Israeli women who are part of the 239 hostages captured by the militia in the attack on Israeli territory on 7 September.
In a message released by his office, Netanyahu addresses the hostages directly, telling them that he sends them a hug and stresses that "everything possible will be done to bring home all the kidnapped and missing persons".
"I am addressing Elena Trupanov, Danielle Aloni and Rimon Kirsht (the three abductees in the video), who were kidnapped by Hamas, which commits war crimes. I send you an embrace. Our hearts go out to you and to the other abductees".
In the video, one of the women turns to the head of the Israeli government and, speaking in Hebrew, says: "Free us now, free their citizens, free their prisoners, let us go back to our families".
"There was supposed to be a ceasefire. You pledged to release us," accuses the woman, the only one of the three who speaks in the 77-second video.
"You are killing us, you want to kill us," adds the woman, who accuses Netanyahu of failing to protect communities near Gaza during the 7 October attack by Hamas's armed wing, which left more than 1,400 dead in Israel, more than 5,400 wounded and 239 hostages held captive in the enclave.
The message released today represents the second video posted by Hamas on its Telegram social network channel, following the release a fortnight ago of a recorded message from a young Israeli woman who said she was fine and asked to be released.
The release of the video coincides with the advance of Israeli ground troops into the Gaza Strip on Monday, even reaching the outskirts of Gaza City.
The army spokesman reported that its troops killed four prominent Hamas militiamen today and that "several terrorist cells that attempted to attack the forces were neutralised by the troops with the support of air force helicopters and drones".
The Israeli army has been bombing Gaza in retaliation since 7 September, an operation that has already killed more than 8,300 people and wounded more than 21,000, according to the Gazan Health Ministry.