Hostages, negotiations and crimes against humanity: how the Gaza conflict evolves VIDEO

The Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas in 2023 sent an appeal from his isolation as ceasefire negotiations intensify. Meanwhile, a report denounces the use of violence against families as a new weapon of war

A video released by the Hamas al-Qassam Brigades shows Matan Angrest, the 21-year-old Israeli soldier kidnapped on 7 October 2023, directly addressing the Israeli government, US President Donald Trump and Israeli military leaders. In a message laden with desperation, Angrest urges a prisoner swap deal as the only route to his release. ‘The only way to get us home is through an exchange agreement and moving forward with phase two,’ he says, stressing that he has been held hostage for 511 days.

His family reported that the young man was injured during the kidnapping, suffering torture and violence while being held captive in Gaza. Angrest, one of 59 hostages still in the hands of Hamas, visibly suffered during his captivity.

Meanwhile, in Cairo, a high-level Hamas delegation is participating in crucial talks with Egyptian mediators to discuss the fragile truce in the Gaza Strip. The meetings focus on progress in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and planning for the second phase of the understanding, which Hamas wants to pursue as a matter of urgency. The group’s demands include a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, an end to the siege and the start of reconstruction, with international financial support.

In parallel, on the eve of International Women’s Day, a shocking report by the Civilian Commission on Crimes against Women and Children emerged, denouncing a new war crime: ‘kinocide’. During the Hamas assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, Palestinian forces deliberately targeted families, using violence against family ties to inflict pain and suffering. The report documents heinous acts such as mass murder, torture and abduction of family members, and the use of social media to spread grief among relatives.

The concept of ‘kinocide’ is introduced as a specific form of violence aimed at destroying family ties, a crime that the Commission believes should be recognised in international criminal law. The systematic use of violence against families is unfortunately not new and has historical roots, having been documented in global conflicts such as those in Iraq, Syria and Rwanda. The Commission recommends that this crime be formally incorporated into international law as a crime against humanity or war crime, with the establishment of an international fund to support the victims.

This tragic reality underlines how the current conflict is transcending traditional definitions of war, marking a new and devastating form of violence against communities.

⚠️Al-Qassam Brigades publish a message from the Israeli soldier prisoner “Matan Angrest”, titled:

“The only way to bring us back is through an exchange deal and moving to the second phase.” pic.twitter.com/s2aW1qX1zW

— The War Room (@WarRoomIntel1) March 7, 2025

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