Israeli captive's family say Netanyahu missed opportunity to save her

The family of deceased Israeli captive Carmel Gat have authorised the airing of a video of her filmed by Hamas' armed wing, in which she is seen urging Israel to secure her release.

Gat's family confirmed the authenticity of the video on Wednesday evening, Haaretz reported, just days after her body was returned to Israel on Sunday.

"On October 7, I, my family, and other residents of Be'eri were abandoned to our fate. I am begging and pleading with the Israeli government and its leader, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, to please stop the neglect, stop the bombings, and bring us home,"  Gat says in the video.

Rights groups and international bodies consider all videos made by captives to be under duress.

In the video, Gat also sends a message to her family and appeals to the Israeli public to continue pressuring the government.

"I ask you to continue demonstrating for us, keep fighting for our lives. Do not give up and do not let the negotiation doors close on us."

Gil Dickmann, a cousin of Gat, was quoted by Haaretz as saying: "In July, Netanyahu said 'no' to a deal that could have saved Carmel from being murdered – and sentenced Carmel to death. His complete failure leads to the murder of more hostages. We need a deal now before it's too late."

Israel has accused Hamas of killing Gat, along with the five other captives whose bodies were recently returned to Israel.

On Monday, Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Obeida said that guards keeping watch over captives in Gaza were given "new instructions" to kill captives in the event of an Israeli rescue attempt.

The spokesman said the new measures were taken following the Nuseirat massacre in June when 276 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli operation to retrieve four captives.

On Wednesday, Lebanon-based Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that Abu Obeida's statement was a general warning to Israel against attempting to rescue the captives and called for a "balanced" investigation by the UN into the recent deaths.

Gat, alongside Eden Yerushalmi and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were slated for release in the proposed deal recently discussed by Hamas, Israel and the mediating countries.

Haaretz quoted a source as saying on Sunday that "they appeared on the lists sent in early July. They could have been brought back alive".

The continuation of Israel's war on Gaza and the failure to reach an agreement to release the captives has pitted the families of hostages against Israel's government, with hundreds taking to the streets of Tel Aviv in recent days to demand that an agreement be made.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has been accused of prolonging the war and avoiding striking a deal to ensure his political survival, with negotiations currently stalling over the premier's insistence that Israel retain control of the Gaza-Egypt border area.