Of the 252 people kidnapped on October 7, 128 are still in Gaza, according to Israeli figures. At least 36 of them have been declared dead by an Israeli forensic commission. (Photo: Bloomberg)
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said on Saturday that one of the hostages kidnapped during the October 7 attack on Israel has died.
Hamas released a video saying that Nadav Popplewell, who was held hostage by the southern Israeli community of Kibbutz Nirim, died after being injured in an Israeli attack in Gaza.
The Israeli military made no immediate comment on the latest video. Previous videos of hostages released by Hamas have been called psychological terror. It has also denied some of Hamas’ previous allegations that hostages were killed by Israeli fire.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamas published an undated video of the 51-year-old prisoner standing in front of a white wall, with a bruise on his right eye, and saying his name.
Hours later, the second video said Popplewell died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike a month ago.
Hamas said Popplewell, who was also said to be a British citizen, was held with a hostage woman when the place where they were being held was targeted by an Israeli missile.
“He died because he did not receive intensive medical care in medical facilities due to the enemy’s destruction of hospitals in Gaza,” Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said in a statement.
Of the 252 people kidnapped on October 7, 128 are still in Gaza, according to Israeli figures. At least 36 of them have been declared dead by an Israeli forensic commission.
Israel says securing the release of the hostages is the goal of its offensive in Gaza, along with eliminating Hamas, which has ruled the enclave since 2007.
Popplewell was captured from her home in Kibbutz Nirim along with his mother, according to the hostages’ support group. His brother was killed during the attack. His mother was released in November during a brief ceasefire.
First print: May 11, 2024 | 9:49 pm IST