Father of Bedouin held captive by Hamas to UN envoys: Don't let my son be a bargaining chip

Sha’aban al-Sayed, the father of Hisham al-Sayed, who has been held captive by Hamas in Gaza since 2015, issues an appeal to UN envoys to help free his son.

In a video message played by Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan at a meeting of the UN Security Council, Sha’aban begs the envoys to help: “I am asking you to get involved and place pressure on Hamas and the Palestinian Authority to free my son as soon as possible, and not to use him as a bargaining chip against Israel,” he says, noting that his son, who has special needs, has been held captive by Hamas for seven years.

Last month Hamas released video footage of Hisham, showing him hooked up to an oxygen machine and claiming that his health had deteriorated.