Family of Israeli hostage Miran approves release of Hamas video in which he calls to demonstrate, appeal to Trump for his release

Israeli hostage Omri Miran pleaded to be released from captivity in Gaza in a new Hamas propaganda video, which the Miran family approved for publication on Thursday

“Hello, I’m Omri Miran, and I’m 48. This is the second birthday I’ve spent here – not celebrating, but simply surviving in Hamas captivity,” he said in Hebrew in the video. “I haven’t felt joy in a year and a half. I really miss my daughters, my wife, all my family and friends.”

Miran, who is married and with two young daughters, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from his home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the invasion and attack on Oct. 7, 2023. He has been in Hamas captivity for the last 565 days.

He emphasized the difficult captivity in Gaza and urged the Israeli public to secure the release of the remaining 59 hostages in Gaza, of whom 24 are believed to be alive.

"The situation here is extremely difficult. Thank you to all the demonstrators and everyone fighting for our safe return home. Do everything you can, everything, to bring us back now, as soon as possible," Miran pleaded.

He addressed former released hostages, including Keith Siegel, who was held captive with Miran and freed during the hostage deal in February:

"I want to ask Keith, my friend who was released, and all the other freed hostages to come out and demonstrate, speak to the media, so everyone understands how terrible our situation is. We live in constant fear of bombardment. Only a deal will bring us home. Appeal to Trump, because he seems to be the only person in the world strong enough,” Miran pleaded.

On Holocaust Remembrance Day on Wednesday, Miran’s family issued a statement criticizing the Israeli government.

“On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, when it is customary to say ‘Never again,’ an Israeli citizen is crying out for help from Hamas tunnels. This is a disgrace to the State of Israel. Our Omri is strong and will not break, but our hearts are broken. For a year and a half, he and 58 other hostages have been waiting to be brought back. We will not give up and will continue to fight until Omri returns to us – and especially to his two daughters, who are waiting with all their hearts to hug him,” the family said.

Omri Miran is a dual Israeli and Hungarian citizen. Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned him during an official state visit to Hungary.

“We, of course, spoke about the Hungarian hostage and other important issues for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote in a now deleted post on 𝕏.

The remark drew criticism of the prime minister for failing to mention Miran by name or acknowledge that he is also an Israeli citizen with a family.

“The ‘Hungarian hostage’ has a name. His name is Omri Miran,” Nahal Oz residents stated. “He also has a wife, Lishay Miran Lavi, and two daughters – Roni, 3 and a half years old, and Alma, who celebrated her second birthday just last week.”