Hamas Releases Second Video of Hostage Maxim Herkin

Hamas has released a new propaganda video showing Israeli hostage Maxim Herkin, providing further proof he is alive more than a year after being abducted during the October 7, 2023 attacks. This is the second video of Herkin, who was taken from the Nova music festival, and follows previous clips in which he appeared with other hostages. The latest undated and edited video shows Herkin referencing Israel's recent Independence Day and identifying himself as one of 59 hostages held in Gaza. Israeli officials and media have largely dismissed these videos as psychological warfare intended to pressure the government, with families and advocacy groups urging restraint in publicizing the footage. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has requested that the video not be fully published without the family's consent, reflecting ongoing sensitivity and concern for the hostages' wellbeing. Meanwhile, negotiations over a potential hostage deal involving Herkin have stalled following the collapse of a ceasefire.