Merz โขCondemns Hamasโ Video Showing Deteriorating Condition of German-Israeli Hostage
Berlin – Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned as “inhumane and unbearable” a newly released video from Hamas displaying teh condition of German-Israeli hostage Alon Ohel. The video, published Monday, marksโฃ the second time in recent weeks Hamas has showcased Ohel in what authorities describe as propaganda. Merz is demanding the immediate release of all hostages and a ceasefire to end the suffering.
Ohel, 24, was abducted during โคthe Hamas terrorist attack on the Nova Festival โคin Israel onโค October 7, 2023. He holds both German โand Israeli citizenship. His parents, Idit and Kobi Ohel, have pleaded with the media and public not to โขdisseminate the video, stating they areโ “shaken and full of pain” by their sonS visibly deteriorating health. They report he appearsโ thin, anxious, and is losing eyesight in his โright eye.
The parents have issued a statement through the forum โขof relatives, demanding that โHamas allow medical professionals to โexamine and treat Ohel. “Asโข a prerequisite for any negotiations (…), we demand that eye specialists Alon examine and treat,” they wrote, also appealing โto Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to โprioritize the return of their son and the remaining 48โข hostages held in Gaza, of whom at least โฃ20 are believed to be alive.
Israeli โofficials have characterized the hostage videos as terrorist propaganda, though relativesโค have sometimes authorized their release. hamas has repeatedly used such videos as a form of psychological pressure.
