Hamas armed wing publishes video of Gaza hostage

The armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas released a minute-long video Friday of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza looking weak and malnourished, inside a narrow concrete tunnel. (X/@AvivaKlompas)
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Updated 01 August 2025
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Hamas armed wing publishes video of Gaza hostage

  • The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades video showed an emaciated and bearded man
  • Israeli media identified as Evyatar David, seized on Oct.7, 2023

JERUSALEM: The armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas released a minute-long video Friday of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza looking weak and malnourished, inside a narrow concrete tunnel.

The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades video showed an emaciated and bearded man that AFP and Israeli media identified as Evyatar David, seized on October 7, 2023.

AFP could not independently verify the video’s authenticity.

David, who turned 24 in captivity, was abducted during the Hamas attack that sparked the Gaza war along with his friend Gal Gilboa-Dalal. Both had been attending the Nova music festival in southern Israel.

They were among 44 festival-goers seized. Palestinian militants killed 370.

In late February, Hamas released a video showing David and Gilboa-Dalal inside a vehicle, watching a hostage release ceremony a few meters (yards) away.

Of the 251 hostages taken during the Hamas attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israeli restrictions on the entry of goods and aid into Gaza have led to severe shortages of food and other essential goods, triggering international demands for a ceasefire.

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Turkiye intercepts uncontrolled drone over Black sea

Updated 16 December 2025
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Turkiye intercepts uncontrolled drone over Black sea

ANKARA: Turkiye shot down an uncontrolled drone approaching its airspace over the Black Sea, the defense ministry said.
The incident follows Turkiye’s warning last week of Black Sea escalation after Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports that damaged three Turkish-owned cargo vessels.
In a statement, the ministry said Turkish and NATO F-16 jets were put on alert to ensure the security of Turkish airspace after the detection of the drone.
It was determined that the drone was out of control and it was shot down in a safe area, the ministry added in Monday’s statement, but did not elaborate on its type or origin.
The attacks on Ukrainian ports came days after Moscow threatened to “cut Ukraine off from the sea” following Kyiv’s attacks that damaged three ‘shadow fleet’ tankers heading to Russia to export its oil in the Black Sea.