Hamas Responds to Ex-Israeli Captive Inquiring about Her Husband’s Condition
Gaza (Quds News Network)- The al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, released a video in response to former Israeli captive Sharon Cunio, in which she asked the group about the condition of her husband, who is currently being held in Gaza.
Cunio and her twin daughters were released by Hamas in November during the ceasefire with Israel, but her husband remains held in Gaza.
On Friday, Cunio published an Arabic video urging Hamas to send a video showing that he is still alive.
For its part, the al-Qassam Brigades released a video in three languages—Arabic, English, and Hebrew—stating that her husband’s fate rests with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who “has not made a decision yet,” adding that “time is running out.”
“Sharon, after you left, and as Zionist military pressure increased, David has either been killed, injured, or is in good health,” the message in the video reads.
⚡️BREAKING: Al-Qassam Brigades:
“Everything depends on Netanyahu, and he hasn’t decided yet”
Al-Qassam Brigades released this video as a reply to former captive Sharon Cunio asking for a video of her husband David, who is still held captive in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/TmqTGYYiWW
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) January 11, 2025
Hamas’s video comes as mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States continue efforts to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas, aiming for a ceasefire and an exchange of Israeli captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Speaking from Paris, France on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken maintained that an agreement was “very close”.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has approved sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar in a sign of progress in talks on the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s office announced the decision Saturday evening. It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Qatar’s capital, Doha, for the latest round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas. His presence means high-level Israeli officials who would need to sign off on any agreement are now involved.
Also being sent to Qatar are the head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency and military and political advisers. Netanyahu’s office said the decision followed a meeting with his defense minister, security chiefs and negotiators “on behalf of the outgoing and incoming U.S. administrations.”
Families of the about 100 captives still held in Gaza are pressing Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring them back. Israel and Hamas are also under pressure from outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden and Trump to reach a deal before the Jan. 20 inauguration.
