The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group on Wednesday published a video of hostage Rom Braslavski.
Braslavski’s family approved the shorter video for publication. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that at this stage, the family does not allow the publication of the full video or images from the video.
In the video approved for publication, Braslavski, whose face is blurred, addressed both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump about a deal to release the hostages.
“Please, Mr. Prime Minister, get me out of here. Trump, where are your promises? Didn’t you say you would release everyone in a deal?”
“All day, I’m just scratching, and it hurts. I don’t know what this disease is.”
Braslavski was taken from the Nova music festival, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. He was 19 at the time of his abduction and is now 21.
Braslavski’s cousin, Adam Hajj, told KAN a day after Rom’s birthday in December that he “was a security guard at the festival” and that “he stayed behind to save people.
“For more than a year, we haven’t had a single shred of information about what’s happening to him,” the report quoted him as saying, “whether he’s eating or drinking, or if he’s even being warmed.”
After watching the video, Braslavski’s relative told Walla, “Thank God we finally see him. I was very emotional. Until now, everything was shrouded in uncertainty; nothing was certain. But the big question that remains is – when was the video made?”
In an Instagram post, the relative wrote, “Rom, my dear little and beloved brother, I don’t recognize you. It seems that you have grown in years, but I see your goodness and Rom, whom I missed so much.
“This is the first message we received from you. We knew before that you were sick and not feeling well and that you needed your medication.”
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The relative continued, “I really hope that this video will shock those who need it and that you will return to us from this nightmare,” adding “We will fight to the last drop of blood for you and will do everything to make sure you return.”
The relative also shared that “No one has contacted the family on behalf of the government, which is an insult, and we are tired of this neglect! Not even a call to check in with us.”
“So that everyone understands that we are being depraved every day with shocking and shameful behavior, and from today, when we saw Rom, we have the strength to fight his war to the end. Rom, we love you and we will not give up!”
Braslavski's mother speaks out
Tami, Rom’s mother, gave an interview to Walla, where she decided to break her silence after a long period of not speaking to the media.
“Let it be clear to everyone – a message to [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, the defense minister, and everyone sitting in the government: my son is held by a terrorist organization in Gaza’s tunnels, and we are being held hostage by a terrorist organization of the Israeli government,” she accused.
“These people don’t treat me. They don’t provide information. They lie and distort. I have no other words.”
Testimonies given to the family by attendees of the Nova party shed light on Braslavski’s bravery. According to them, he understood the magnitude of the event from the start, at 6:30 a.m.
“This kid took on a role and responsibility,” said Tami.
“He ran from place to place without a weapon and without a vehicle. He rescued, helped, and encouraged everyone. He told them, ‘Don’t worry, we are more than them, and stronger than them. We can handle them. We just need to wait calmly. In a few hours, the IDF will be here, and we’ll be home.”
“I chose to remain silent to avoid putting him at risk,” she explained.
“Now that I know these people are making plans behind the scenes, I will not remain silent. My feelings are very complicated. The whole world saw how the hostages returned.
“Who knows if they would have held on for another week? They gave them the minimum to hold their breath that day. My son is in the same situation.”