TEL AVIV, Sep 5 – Tensions between Israel and Hamas escalated further on Friday after the militant group released a new video featuring two Israeli hostages, while the Israeli military intensified its campaign in Gaza City with a strike that brought down a high-rise building. The video, which appeared heavily edited, showed two young captives believed to have been taken during the October 2023 cross-border attack that sparked the current war.
Two of the remaining 48 hostages in Gaza are 24-year-olds, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel. According to Israeli assessments, only about 20 of these hostages are thought to remain alive nearly two years after their abduction. The incident has once again reignited fierce debate within Israel over government strategy, while raising international concern over the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
Hostage Video Fuels Anger and Fear
The recently circulated footage showed an exhausted Gilboa-Dalal speaking for more than three minutes from inside a moving vehicle. At one point, he identified his location as Gaza City and expressed fear of being killed during Israel’s advancing military operations. Ohel appeared briefly in the video as well, though he remained silent. The authenticity of when the video was filmed remains uncertain, but the date displayed on screen indicated August 28.
This is not the first time Hamas has released hostage footage. Earlier this year, other captives were forced to appear in similar clips, later recounting that their words had been dictated by their captors. Human rights organizations have denounced such practices, arguing that using hostages for propaganda constitutes inhumane treatment and may amount to war crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the latest video, describing it as “cruel propaganda” aimed at inflicting psychological damage on Israeli society. He reiterated that the government would continue military operations until all hostages were released. Families of the captives, however, voiced growing frustration, arguing that the military campaign could be endangering their loved ones rather than bringing them closer to freedom.
Public pressure has been mounting as Israelis have organized weekly rallies to demand the return of the hostages. On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv to mark 700 days since the abductions took place, urging the government to prioritize negotiations. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for immediate resumption of talks, noting that previous releases were achieved only through diplomatic mediation. In contrast, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pushed for an even harder line, advocating a full occupation of Gaza to dismantle Hamas completely.
Hamas has stated that it is willing to exchange hostages for a temporary ceasefire, but Netanyahu has insisted on a complete surrender from the group, including the release of all hostages and disarmament. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that military pressure would increase until those conditions were met.
Israeli Strikes Level High-Rise in Gaza
As attention focused on the hostage footage, conditions in Gaza worsened further. On Friday, the Israeli military reported hitting a high-rise in western Gaza City, alleging that Hamas had been using the site for its operations. The army also asserted that residents were warned in advance of the strike, though it did not provide evidence of militant activity inside the structure.
Management of the building denied the military’s claim, stating that the tower had housed displaced Palestinian families who had nowhere else to go. Video footage captured the moment the strike hit, sending the tower crumbling in seconds. Thick smoke and debris billowed into the air, drifting toward nearby tent camps sheltering civilians who had already fled earlier bombardments.
According to Gaza health officials, 30 Palestinians were killed across the enclave on Friday, including at least 20 in Gaza City. Weeks of relentless air and ground assaults have left vast portions of the city in ruins. Israeli commanders reported that their forces now control about 40% of Gaza City, advancing from outer suburbs toward the center. They estimate that the military holds roughly three-quarters of the territory overall.
For residents trapped inside, daily life has become unbearable. In Sheikh Radwan, a father of two named Ismail described the neighborhood shaking under relentless shelling and gunfire. Speaking by phone, he said his family feared they would lose everything if they fled, yet staying in their home no longer felt safe. “We pray for a ceasefire,” he said quietly, his voice reflecting exhaustion and despair.
The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with Gaza’s health authorities reporting more than 64,000 deaths since the start of the conflict. Infrastructure across the enclave lies in ruins, hospitals struggle to cope with dwindling supplies, and displaced families crowd into makeshift shelters with little access to clean water or food.
As the war grinds on, the divide between military strategy and humanitarian concerns grows sharper. Supporters of the government argue that only overwhelming force can dismantle Hamas and prevent future attacks. Critics, however, caution that continued escalation may risk the lives of hostages, worsen civilian suffering, and fuel further instability across the region.