Hamas released a propaganda video to its social media of brothers Iair and Eitan Horn on Saturday, right before Iair was released from captivity.
The video shows the Horn brothers hugging and saying their goodbyes a day before Iair was to be released back to Israel, in what appears to be an underground Hamas tunnel.
“I am very happy to see that my brother is being released, but this is not logical, in any way, to separate families,” Eitan said in the video. “Get everyone out and don’t separate families. Do not destroy all our lives.”
As Eitan hugs his brother, he tells him to tell their parents and everyone to continue the demonstrations and calls for the government to sign the second phase of the deal.
Iair was released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal on February 15. Since his return, he has been advocating for his brother’s release.
Family and PMO statements on the video
“My heart is torn from seeing Eitan in this difficult situation, where he is separated from his brother who is being released, and he remains held in the hell that is Hamas, for 512 days,” the Horn family said in a statement.
“You can see in Eitan’s eyes the despair and fear he is experiencing. Since Iair returned to us, he hasn’t stopped thinking about and acting on behalf of Eitan and all those who were kidnapped and are still in captivity,” they said.
“We demand from those making the decisions to look Eitan in the eyes. Don’t stop the agreement that has already brought dozens of abductees back to us,” they said, calling for the release of the rest of the hostages. “They’re running out of time! Bring everyone home, now, in one fell swoop.”
The family of hostage Nimrod Cohen identified him in the same video.
The Prime Minister’s Office responded to Hamas’s video on X/Twitter.
"The terrorist organization Hamas released another cruel propaganda video this evening, in which our hostages are forced to engage in psychological warfare," the Prime Minister's Office wrote. "Israel will not be deterred by Hamas propaganda. We will continue to work tirelessly to return all of our hostages and to meet all of Israel's war goals."
ארגון הטרור חמאס הפיץ הערב עוד סרטון תעמולה אכזרי, בו מאולצים חטופינו לדברר לוחמה פסיכולוגית.ישראל לא תירתע מתעמולת החמאס.נוסיף לפעול ללא לאות להשבת כל חטופינו ולעמידה בכל מטרות המלחמה של ישראל.
— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) March 1, 2025
Iair and Eitan were kidnapped from Iair’s home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Released hostages have reported that the two were healthy and uninjured and were being held together in captivity until Iair was released.