British-Israeli hostage Nadav Popplewell, who was held by the Hamas militant group following the October 7 attack on Israel, succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli air strike, as reported by Al Jazeera citing Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. This revelation followed the group’s announcement just hours after releasing an 11-second video showing Popplewell with a bruised eye.
In the video, which circulated on social media and Israeli news outlets, Popplewell identifies himself as a 51-year-old from the Nirim kibbutz in southern Israel. Text in Arabic and Hebrew overlaying the video reads, “Time is running out. Your government is lying.”
Popplewell was captured in Nirim during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, according to Israel’s Ynet news site. His mother was also taken captive but was later released during a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel last year. Additionally, Popplewell’s brother was killed in the attack.
This recent video marks the third occasion in less than a month that Hamas has released footage of captives held in Gaza. These releases come amidst mounting domestic pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of remaining captives.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel issued a statement urging the government to negotiate with Hamas for the captives’ release, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Relatives of the captives criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his handling of the situation and called for his resignation, stressing that the return of the hostages is paramount.
Despite the pressure, Netanyahu’s government has yet to reach a deal with Hamas. According to Israeli officials, 128 captives are still held in Gaza, with 36 confirmed deceased.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant casualties, with thousands killed and wounded.