A video released on Wednesday shows that two American and two Israeli hostages are alive. The hostages have been held for over a year.
The video was released by the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, the Palestinian organization that controls the Gaza Strip.
In the video, the hostages identify themselves and give their names and dates of birth. They also state that they are being held in Gaza and that they are in good health.
The video was released shortly after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that the group was willing to negotiate with the United States and Israel for the release of the hostages.
The hostages were captured in June 2014 during a raid on an Israeli military base in Gaza. The hostages are:
The release of the video is a positive step in the effort to secure the release of the hostages. However, it is unclear when or if the hostages will be released.
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