Lead: On 5 September 2025, Hamas published a video purporting to show two Israeli men taken during the 7 October 2023 cross‑border attack; footage dated 28 August identifies Guy Gilboa‑Dalal in Gaza City and also shows Alon Ohel, prompting renewed calls to restart hostage negotiations and drawing strong reactions from Israeli officials.
Key Takeaways
- Hamas released a video showing Guy Gilboa‑Dalal and Alon Ohel, both abducted in the 7 October 2023 attacks.
- Footage dated 28 August reportedly shows Gilboa‑Dalal in Gaza City; he says he and eight others are being held there.
- Alon Ohel appears on video for the first time since his abduction, roughly 700 days after 7 October 2023.
- They are among 48 hostages still held by Hamas; Israeli authorities estimate about 20 remain alive.
- Israeli leaders reacted strongly: Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with the families; far‑right ministers urged full occupation of Gaza; some politicians called to resume talks.
- Hamas has said it accepted a mediated August proposal from Qatar and Egypt; Israel has not agreed and demands the release of all hostages at once.
- The wider Gaza offensive continues, with Israel saying it controls about 40% of Gaza City and local authorities reporting heavy Palestinian civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Verified Facts
The video published by Hamas shows Guy Gilboa‑Dalal, who was taken from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on 7 October 2023. In the segment dated 28 August, Gilboa‑Dalal is filmed inside a vehicle and says he and eight others are being held in Gaza City. Alon Ohel also appears; this is the first widely circulated footage of him since the October seizure.
Both men are part of the overall hostage figure from the October attack: 251 people were reported taken hostage on 7 October 2023. Israeli authorities say 48 hostages remain in Gaza, and that around 20 of those are believed to be alive. These counts have been repeatedly cited by Israeli officials and family groups.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| People killed in October 7 attacks | 1,200 |
| People taken hostage on 7 October | 251 |
| Hostages still held (reported) | 48 |
| Hostages thought to be alive (reported) | 20 |
| Reported deaths in Gaza since October (territory health ministry) | 64,300 |
Following the video’s release, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly spoke at length with the families of Gilboa‑Dalal and Ohel. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said military operations would intensify until Hamas met Israel’s conditions, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir urged taking full control of Gaza.
Context & Impact
Diplomatic efforts have continued intermittently. In August, Hamas announced it had accepted a mediator proposal from Qatar and Egypt to exchange living hostages and remains for hundreds of Palestinian detainees during a 60‑day truce. Israel has not accepted that framework and insists on the simultaneous and full return of all hostages.
Militarily, Israel says it has established control over roughly 40% of Gaza City and is targeting sites it alleges are used by Hamas, including high‑rise buildings. The Israel Defense Forces stated strikes are aimed at degrading militant infrastructure and said it had issued advance warnings in some instances to reduce civilian harm.
Humanitarian agencies and the UN warn that the offensive has produced severe civilian consequences. Gaza’s Hamas‑run health ministry reported 30 Palestinians killed in the previous 24 hours, including 20 in Gaza City; aid organizations have noted mass displacement and confirmed a famine declaration last month in parts of the territory.
Satellite imagery and other independent observations indicate widespread destruction in multiple Gaza neighbourhoods over recent weeks, and international agencies are pressing for greater access to aid and protection for civilians.
Official Statements
“No propaganda video will weaken us or divert us from our determination to achieve these goals,” the Prime Minister’s office said after the footage surfaced.
Prime Minister’s Office
“Those who genuinely want the hostages home should return immediately to the negotiating table,” said a representative of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Hostages and Missing Families Forum
Unconfirmed
- Hamas’s claim that Gilboa‑Dalal and eight others are together in Gaza City has not been independently verified.
- Precise health and living conditions of the hostages shown on the video are not independently confirmed.
- Reports that Israel controls exactly 40% of Gaza City are based on Israeli military statements and may vary by independent observers.
Bottom Line
The video underlines the persistence of the hostage crisis more than 700 days after 7 October 2023, intensifying domestic pressure in Israel to secure returns while complicating the military and diplomatic calculus. Families and opposition figures are urging a return to mediated talks, even as hardline officials call for expanded military action; the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains acute and will likely shape international responses.