Hamas announce a British-Israeli hostage has been killed in Gaza
- Nadav Popplewell, 51, and his brother have both been killed
- Their mother who was kidnapped has now been released
Cruel Hamas terrorists last night announced a British-born hostage being held in Gaza had been killed – less than three hours after publishing a video which appeared to show him alive.
In a sickening stunt, Hamas released the first video showing British-Israeli Nadav Popplewell, 51, visibly bruised and injured in his right eye, talking to camera to give his name and age.
The chilling, 11-second clip ended with a question mark on the screen while ominous music played in the background.
Then, three hours later the terrorist organisation issued a new video which claimed that Nadav originally from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was injured in an IDF airstrike last month before succumbing to his injuries.
It has not been possible to independently verify whether Nadav had been killed or how he had been murdered.
Hamas released a video of British-Israeli hostage Nadav Popplewell, 51, who was kidnapped by terrorists to Gaza during the October 7 attacks. The video ended with a question mark on the screen
Nadav’s sister, Ayelet Svalitzky, 46, has been campaigning for his release. Her older brother, Roi, was killed during the attacks of October 7, while her mother, Channah, 79, was kidnapped but released during the first hostage deal in November
Hamas is thought to still be holding some 100 captives and the remains of more than 30
But in the horrifying video cartoon blood slowly drips down the screen over Nadav’s face while a caption states: ‘military pressure = failure and death’.
Later, Al Qassam spokesperson Abu Obaida confirmed that Popplewell ‘died of wounds he sustained after Zionist fighter jets targeted his place of detention over a month ago’.
They claim the same strikes also killed 70-year-old Judy Feinstein.
This is not the first time perverse Hamas fighters have teased the fate of the hostages in an attempt to torment their families.
In January Hamas released a propaganda video featuring Noa Argamani, 26, Yossi Sharabi, 51, and Itay Svirsky, 38, alongside the caption: ‘What do you think? All killed? Some killed, some injured? Still Alive. Tonight we will inform you of their fate.’
Eventually it was revealed that Noa Argamani was still alive but the other two men had been murdered.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been ordered to evacuate Rafah as Israel prepares to expand its military operation
More than 1.4 million Palestinians – half of Gaza’s population – have been sheltering in Rafah, most after fleeing Israel’s offensives elsewhere
At the outset of the war Hamas threatened to execute hostages in response to IDF airstrikes.
Israel regards all hostage videos as a form of psychological warfare and torment and does not comment on them.
A spokesperson for The Hostages and Missing Families Forum – a group that represents the interests of the hostage families – said: ‘Every sign of life received from the hostages held by Hamas is another cry of distress to the Israeli government and its leaders.
‘We don’t have a moment to spare!
‘You must strive to implement a deal that will bring them all back today – the living to rehabilitation and the murdered to burial.’
This latest video comes days after the Israeli Defence Forces launched its military offensive into the southern city of Rafah, where around one million Palestinains who have been forced to flee their homes, are currently sheltering.
It follows several failed negotiation attempts for a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.
Hen Mazzig, a Senior Fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute, an online hate research centre, said: ‘It’s horrifying to see the extent of Hamas brutality and inhumanity.
‘It’s a reminder of Hamas war crimes and violation of countless of international laws: kidnapping, brutalising, not providing information about the hostages, playing with their lives and cynically weaponising the pain of the families and Israelis.’
Nadav’s elderly mother Channah Peri, 79, was freed from Gaza on November 24 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar.
She was kidnapped in her pyjamas from her home in Kibbutz Nirim alongside her son.
Terrorists who broke into her home took pictures of the frightened pair and sent them to Ayelet Svatitsky, (Channah’s daughter, Nadav’s sister) alongside the one-word caption ‘Hamas’.
Nadav’s brother, father-of-two Roi Popplewell, 54, was shot and killed behind his home on October 7 when more than one thousand Palestinian militants invaded Israel.
In January Nadav’s sister mother-of-three Ayelet Svatitzky, 46, exclusively told MailOnline that their mother ‘won’t survive’ if she is forced to bury another son.
She said: ‘My mum needs to see her son [Nadav] again and I want to see my brother again.’
‘My mother is very strong but I worry she will not survive burying another son.
‘She cannot start recovering from her trauma until Nadav is home and safe.’
Nadav has diabetes and asthma and requires urgent medication.
According to Israel, 132 hostages remain trapped in Gaza including women and children.
The British Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We’re urgently seeking more information following the release of this video. Our thoughts are with his family at this extremely distressing time.’
‘The UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals. We will continue to do all we can to secure the release of hostages.’
