WATCH: Hamas releases video of Horn brothers before Yair's release 

Hamas released a video today (Saturday) showing Eitan and Yair Horn, two Israeli brothers held captive together in Gaza until Yair’s recent release, amid stalled negotiations with Israel over remaining hostages. The footage, filmed before Yair was freed earlier this month in a phased deal, captures Eitan, still detained, pleading for a broader agreement to bring all captives home.

In the video, approved for release by the Horn family, the brothers appear seated together—possibly in a tunnel—alongside others, embracing as they address Israeli leaders. Eitan Horn says, “It’s illogical to separate families—get everyone out, don’t ruin our lives,” urging his parents to push for a second phase of releases and imploring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “sign today” if he has “a shred of heart.”

Yair Horn, now safe, adds, “They’re making me leave my little brother here to die,” while Eitan questions the government’s 16-month effort, asking, “How many more do you want to kill?” The emotional exchange underscores the personal toll of captivity, with Eitan noting, “I’m not okay mentally—I can’t stay.”

The video’s release coincides with a breakdown in talks between Israel and Hamas, with Israel’s negotiating team returning from Cairo on Friday after Hamas rejected a proposal to extend the current ceasefire phase. Israeli officials, who offered to maintain control over the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s border, have not disclosed full details, nor has Hamas specified its counter-demands.

Netanyahu held a rare Friday night meeting to address the impasse, with another scheduled for Saturday evening, signaling urgency as pressure mounts from hostage families. The Horns’ plea reflects broader calls to expedite releases, with an estimated 60 captives still held in Gaza after more than 500 days since the October 7, 2023, attack.

The Horn family, in a statement, described the anguish of seeing Eitan’s “despair and fear” after 512 days in captivity. “Since Yair returned, he hasn’t stopped acting for Eitan and the others still there,” they said, urging leaders not to halt a deal that has already freed dozens and to “bring them all home now, in one phase.”

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office called the video “cruel propaganda” meant to wage psychological warfare, vowing to continue efforts to secure all hostages while pursuing broader war goals. The IDF has not commented on its authenticity or timing, which some see as a Hamas tactic to leverage stalled talks.

The brothers’ ordeal—Eitan still captive, Yair recently freed—highlights the human stakes as diplomatic efforts falter, leaving families and officials grappling for a resolution.