The families of Gaza hostages Bar Abraham Kupershtein and Maxim Herkin on Thursday released a short clip from the first sign of life they received in a Hamas propaganda video three months ago.
"We are dying here with a pulse, we don't feel human," the two said in the brief clip from the Hostages' Families Forum. "We are again 30 meters underground."
About a month later, an additional sign of life was published by Hamas, showing Herkin alone.
The families initially refused to allow the publication of the videos. Still, they were released by the forum on Thursday, “To sound the cry of the hostage families in the face of the possibility of a partial deal involving cruel selections, separating one blood from another. All 50 hostages and the hostage are humanitarian cases—some of them in life-threatening situations, and others at risk of being lost forever."
"The families demand to bring an overall agreement that will ensure the return of the last hostage. This is the right and moral action, one that does not require separating siblings and immoral choices of one hostage over another."
Herkin and Kupershtein were kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova festival
Although not a fan of parties, Herkin agreed to attend the Nova festival with two friends. Both were killed in the October 7 Hamas onslaught, and their bodies were later found burned inside a vehicle.
Before being taken hostage, Herkin managed to send a message to his mother. “Mom, everything’s okay. I’m slowly making my way home,” he wrote.
Kupershtein was taken to Gaza from the Nova party, where he worked as a security guard. During the attack, he stayed behind to assist the Israeli police and security team, providing first aid to the injured.
Kupershtein reportedly inherited his desire to help others from his father, who was a volunteer medic. Tal was injured in a severe car accident and has been disabled since then. Bar has taken on the majority of the family’s financial responsibilities, working various jobs since high school while also volunteering for Yedidim.
On the morning of the attack, Kupershtein's family tried to reach him for hours. "It was clear something bad had happened," his aunt said.