Hamas releases second video of Russian-Israeli hostage Maxim Herkin
Hamas released a video this evening (Saturday) showing hostage Maxim Herkin.
This is the second video of Herkin released since he was abducted in Gaza.
Herkin (36) was kidnapped from the Nova music festival near Re’im and has been held by Hamas in Gaza for 575 days. Maxim has a mother, a brother, a partner, and a three-year-old daughter.
In early April, the terror organization released footage of both Herkin and Bar Kupershtein in captivity. Herkin’s family recognized his voice, even in the blurry “teaser” that Hamas initially published.
Herkin’s relatives have Russian citizenship and there have been Russian efforts to secure his release.
Senior Hamas official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, who led a Hamas delegation to Moscow about three months ago, said that discussions regarding Herkin’s release would take place in the second stage of the hostage release deal. Abu Marzouk stated that Hamas is willing to "prioritize Herkin" so that he appears at the top of the list of those to be released in the second phase.
This, despite Russia urging Hamas to release Herkin during the first stage of the deal, even though he is not on the humanitarian list. That release did not occur, and the first phase of the deal ended, as did the ceasefire in Gaza, when the IDF resumed fighting in the Strip.
Kan.org.il is the Hebrew news website of the The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
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