Islamic Jihad airs propaganda clip claiming to show hostage alive in Gaza on Jan. 5

In latest psychological terror, group shares video of Elad Katzir, abducted on October 7, mourning death of fellow Nir Oz member, calling on government to secure his release

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group released a new propaganda video Monday purporting to show Israeli hostage Elad Katzir alive in the Gaza Strip on January 5, after he was kidnapped during the October 7 Hamas onslaught.

Katzir, 47, was one of around 75 hostages taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, when some 3,000 terrorists burst across the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip by land, air and sea, killing some 1,200 people and seizing over 240 hostages — mostly civilians — of all ages under the cover of a deluge of thousands of rockets fired at Israeli towns and cities.

In response, Israel vowed to eliminate the terror group, and launched a wide-scale military offensive aimed at destroying Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and securing the release of the hostages, some of whom are being held by terror groups other than Hamas.

The latest video shows Katzir mourning the death of his friend Tamir Adar, whose death was announced on January 5, in an apparent attempt to date the video. Adar was killed by Hamas terrorists on Nir Oz on October 7.

Seemingly speaking under duress with Hebrew music in the background, Katzir also called on the Israeli government to do more to bring about his release.

His mother Hanna Katzir was also taken hostage from Nir Oz on October 7 and was released as part of a week-long truce deal in late November. His father Rami was killed in the massacre.

Extended members of hostage Elad Katzir’s family, outside the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv, a new location for families of hostages held in Gaza, on December 19, 2023. (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)

Elad Katzir was also featured in a previous Islamic Jihad propaganda video on December 20, alongside another hostage, Gadi Mozes.

It is believed that 132 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during the November pause in fighting. Four hostages were released prior to that, and one was rescued by troops. The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three hostages were mistakenly killed by the military.

The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed the deaths of 25 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.