From the Liveblog of
Saturday, April 27, 2024
At rally hours after Hamas released video of his son, Dani Miran pleads for a deal, urges Sinwar to ‘show some humanity’
Cnaan Lidor is The Times of Israel's Jewish World reporter
Addressing thousands at Hostages Square, Dani Miran describes how he felt seeing a filmed message from his son in Gaza that Hamas released today.
“As I had expected, he had a beard. Because he has nothing to shave with,” says Dani of his son Omri, whom Hamas terrorists abducted on October 7 from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. “I saw another thing — I scrutinized every millimeter in the image — I saw he’s not brushing his teeth, either.”
Dani, who has himself grown a beard since his son was abducted, vows to shave it off with his son when he returns.
In the edited three-minute-long video of Miran and another hostage, Keith Siegel, they identify themselves, speak to their families, and say they are hoping for a hostage deal that would see them and other hostages returned home.
Dani Miran tells the crowds in Hostages Square: “I hope a deal will really happen now.”
He calls on Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, to “Take a small step and spare bloodshed for both peoples.” Addressing Sinwar, he continues: “Show some humanity, and [Israel’s] cabinet will reciprocate, I am sure of it.”
To Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet, Miran says, “Approve any deal, but any deal, that’s feasible. I implore you, one request: Make the decision now.”
