---

A shadowy figure moves through a tunnel, while the camera focuses on a piece of paper in his right hand, before opening a small metal door and entering what seems like a room.

In this small space, the Israeli-Russian hostage Alexander Turbanov is shown sitting on the floor, awaiting the decision of his release.

This new video was published by the Palestinian “Jihad” movement ahead of the release of Turbanov, along with two other hostages held in Gaza since the attack on October 7, 2023.

• Revealing the Fate of the Oldest Israeli Hostage Held by Hamas

• Hamas Counts Israeli Hostages in Preparation for a Possible Exchange

The hostage appeared to be in good health, sitting on a simple rug on the floor, and the focus seemed to be clearly on showcasing the tunnel in which he was held, sending multi-layered messages.

When he received the decision of his release, the hostage said: (“Praise be to God”), repeating it several times, clearly delighted with the news of his release.

Observers believe that the release of this video before the handover of the hostages sends a message to Israel, signaling that Hamas is capable of hiding hostages in places inaccessible within the Gaza Strip.

• Washington denies using floating dock in rescue of Israeli hostages and announces completion of aid deliveries

• Doha negotiates with Hamas to bring in medicines for Israeli hostages 

It could also serve as a warning regarding the importance of completing the agreement and pushing forward with negotiations on its second phase.

This comes at a time when there is uncertainty surrounding the future of the ceasefire agreement, especially since negotiations on its second phase have yet to begin, a phase that is supposed to see the release of all living hostages and the end of the war.

Fishing

It is noteworthy that the same hostage appeared in another video published by the “Jihad” movement last Friday, where Turbanov seemed to be freely walking along the Gaza beach, fishing from the sea, and writing something in Hebrew on a small piece of paper.

• Israeli-Hamas Tensions Over U.S. Proposal for Hostage Deal

• 7 Hostages Killed in Israeli Strike Disrupting Ceasefire Talks

On Saturday, Hamas and Israel carried out their sixth hostage exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which has come close to collapsing this week.

All those released today held dual nationality and had been detained in Gaza for 16 months. This operation comes just ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s arrival in Israel on Saturday evening for scheduled talks on Sunday.

As with every exchange operation, dozens of masked and armed fighters from the “Izz ad-Din al-Qassam” brigades, the Hamas military wing, were deployed around the platform set up this time in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

• Progress in Hostage Release Talks Amid Israeli Escalation in Gaza

• Who Are the Four Hostages That Hamas and Islamic Jihad Will Release on Saturday?

Political Messages on the Platform

Behind the platform, a large banner carried the logo of the “al-Qassam” brigades and the phrase “The only immigration is to Jerusalem” in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, expressing rejection of the former U.S. President Donald Trump‘s plan to transfer Gaza’s residents to Egypt or Jordan, a plan which was met with strong Arab opposition.

Another banner read “Oh Jerusalem, we are coming,” alongside images of Hamas leaders who were killed in the war.

• Echoes of the “Lebanon Truce” Reverberate in Gaza: A Boost for Hostage Negotiations?

• Gaza War Haunts Israeli Fans in France: Clashes and Protests

The three hostages released on Saturday were Russian-Israeli Sasha Turbanov (29), Israeli-American Sagi Dekel Han (36), and Israeli-Argentine Yair Horn (46).

The three men were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.

Of the 251 people kidnapped during the attack, 73 are still held in Gaza, 35 of whom have died, according to the Israeli army.

• On the Eve of Gaza Negotiations Resumption, Netanyahu’s Stance “Shatters” Hostage Families’ Hopes

• “Humiliation and mistreatment” of Palestinian prisoners: a “routine exercise” in Israeli prisons

• Exchange of Accusations Between Israel and Hamas Over the Killing of Six Hostages