The family of Alon Ohel, one of the two Israeli hostages seen in the video released by Hamas on Friday, has said that the 24-year-old has lost sight in his right eye.“We were shocked to see Alon’s condition. After consulting with eye specialists in Israel and around the world, it is clear that Alon has lost sight in his right eye,” the family says in a statement. Ohel was seen along with another hostage, Guy Gilboa-Dalal in the video. (Photo: Screengrab)This was the first time since he was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, that Ohel was seen alive. He has so far spent 700 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza.‘Hamas leadership responsible’“The frequent blinking we observe indicates severe difficulty focusing and seeing for extended periods,” the family said.In a statement released through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the family said the Hamas leadership is responsible for their son’s condition.“No international law permits holding an injured civilian captive without proper medical treatment. The responsibility for Alon’s well-being lies with his captors and Hamas leadership, who are obligated to preserve his life and health according to international law,” the statement said.In February, Israeli public broadcaster Kan had reported that Ohel could lose his sight due to shrapnel injuries, among other wounds, based on testimonies of freed hostages.Story continues below this adTwo hostages seen in Hams videoOhel, who is also a Serbian and German citizen, was seen along with another hostage, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, as being seated in a car. The video mostly featured Gilboa-Dalal and was recorded on August 28 in various parts of Gaza City. There are 48 Israeli hostages in Gaza, 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive. (Photo: Screengrab)Families of hostages hit out at governmentThe video was released by Hamas as the Israeli offensive in Gaza City gained momentum. Responding to the video, families of the hostages had alleged that the IDF did not know the location of the captives and expressed fear that the operation in Gaza could result in their murder.There are 48 Israeli hostages in Gaza, 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive. Families of the hostages accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war in order to satisfy his far-right governing partners instead of reaching a ceasefire with Hamas to bring the hostages home.“The government of Israel is waging a war of attrition against us, against the citizens of Israel as a whole, and against the families of the hostages in particular,” said Lishay Lavi-Miran, the wife of hostage Omri Miran.Story continues below this adIsraeli military gears up for Gaza operationMeanwhile, Israel struck a high-rise building in Gaza City on Friday after an evacuation warning, as the military stepped up operations aimed at seizing control of the city. The military accused Hamas militants of using high-rises in the city for surveillance and planned ambushes, and said it would carry out “precise, targeted strikes” on militant infrastructure in the coming days.