Hamas releases proof of life from Omri Miran

Omri Miran, a 47-year-old Israeli from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, has endured over 565 days in Hamas captivity since his abduction during the brutal October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. His story has drawn attention through Hamas’s propaganda videos and updates from released hostages, shedding light on the grueling conditions he’s faced.

The Abduction: A Family Torn Apart

On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants stormed Kibbutz Nahal Oz, one of many communities targeted in an attack that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Miran, then 46, was at home with his wife, Lishay, and their two daughters, Roni (2) and Alma (6 months).

Terrorists invaded their home, forcibly moved the family to a neighbor’s house, and then took Omri, leaving Lishay and the girls behind. “As they took him, Roni tried to run after her father, shouting, ‘I want my father,’” Lishay later recounted. Every night since, Roni has wished her dad goodnight, a painful ritual reflecting the family’s longing.

Miran was driven across the border in his own car.

Proof of Life: Hamas’s Propaganda Videos

Hamas has released two “proof of life” videos featuring Miran, both labeled by Israel as psychological warfare. The first, on April 27, 2024, showed Miran alongside Keith Siegel, another hostage. In the undated, three-minute clip, filmed under duress, Miran said he’d been held for 202 days, noting the “unpleasant, difficult” conditions with “many bombs.” He pleaded for a ceasefire deal to secure his release, a scripted message aimed at pressuring Israel. His father, Dani, told Channel 12, “He had a beard, and he must not have brushed his teeth since that Holocaust there. Physically he looks great, but I hope mentally he’s still okay.”

The second video, released today, emerged exactly one year later. Hamas’s timing often aligns with negotiation pressure, as seen in 2024 when the first video coincided with talks for a ceasefire that would’ve paused Israel’s planned Rafah offensive.

Hostages and Missing Families Forum released this statement:

Omri Miran's family does not authorize the publication of the video released by Hamas earlier this evening.

The family authorizes only the publication of the attached photo.

The family requests that their privacy be respected and asks not to be contacted during these hours.

The Miran family asked to convey the following:“On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, when we say ‘Never Again,’ an Israeli citizen is crying out for help from Hamas’s tunnels. This is a disgrace to the State of Israel. Our Omri is strong and will not break, but our hearts are breaking. For a year and a half, he and 58 other hostages have been waiting to be brought back. We will not give up and will continue to fight until Omri returns to us, and especially to his two daughters who are waiting for him with all their hearts.”

Conditions in Captivity: What We Know

In February 2025, a recently released hostage provided the first update on Miran’s condition since July 2024. Boaz Miran, Omri’s brother, shared that the former captive reported Omri was “generally stable” while held in tunnels and residential buildings. However, Boaz cautioned, “Everything we know is only valid until that point of separation. The situation could have changed dramatically since then.” Hamas likely separated hostages due to different categories during July 2024 negotiations, a tactic to complicate deals.

The family’s concern is heightened by reports of deteriorating conditions. “The hostages are not in good shape,” Boaz said, noting physical decline and the risk of another phased release process. Released hostages, like Keith Siegel, freed in February 2025 after 484 days, described periods with no food, relying on mutual support to survive. Miran’s brother-in-law, Moshe Lavi, said after the 2024 video, “He doesn’t look well. Time is of the essence.”

The Family’s Fight

Lishay Miran-Lavi and her daughters have been vocal in their fight to free Omri. On April 11, 2025, Lishay marked Omri’s 48th birthday on Channel 12, blowing out a cupcake candle with Roni and Alma. She opened an empty “gift” box, symbolizing the air Omri lacks in Gaza’s tunnels, and begged the government to act. Roni, now 3, and Alma, nearly 2, have spent most of their lives without their father. Lishay told The Times of Israel in March 2024, “I’m focusing on my daughters and how to bring Omri back.”

The family has met with global leaders, including U.S. officials, to push for a deal. Boaz has demanded the simultaneous release of all 59 remaining hostages, arguing, “Their physical condition is deteriorating, and they won’t survive another drawn-out process.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum echoed this after the 2024 video, calling the footage “the clearest evidence” for urgent action.

The Road Ahead

Miran’s family clings to hope but fears time is running out. “We believe Omri is alive, but we need a deal now,” Boaz said. Posts on X, like @HenMazzig’s on April 11, 2025, highlight the emotional toll: “Omri turns 48, but he’s not surrounded by his beautiful family. He’s surrounded by narrow walls, silence.”

Chairman of the Finance Committee, MK Moshe Gafni, met earlier today with Lishay Miran-Lavi, Omri's wife. MK Gafni reiterated that "bringing back the hostages is the most important issue, redeeming captives is the most significant mitzvah in Judaism, and everything must be done to bring all the hostages back quickly."