Disturbing Video of Hostage Taking Released by Families of Captive Israeli Women

On Wednesday, the families of Israeli women taken hostage on October 7 released a harrowing video showing five female soldiers being captured by Hamas militants. In the video, the captors refer to the women as “dogs” and issue threats to shoot them.

Details of the Video

The video starts with the young women, their hands bound behind them and some with bloodied faces, being shoved against a wall by the militants who had overtaken a shelter on the Nahal Oz base. In Arabic, one of the gunmen shouts, "You dogs, we will step on you, you dogs," while another gunman demands, "Take, take pictures of them."

Background and Identification

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, created by families of those kidnapped during the Hamas attack, shared the 3-minute, 10-second video, describing it as evidence of the nation’s failure to secure the hostages' release, who have been held captive for 229 days. They have been urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to negotiate a truce with Hamas. The women in the video were identified as Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniela Gilboa, and Naama Levy, who are all still believed to be in Hamas custody. Additionally, Ori Megidish was rescued after 23 days, while Noa Marciano was killed during captivity.

Official Reactions

Following the video's release, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed continued support for the hostages' families, calling for global attention to the atrocity. "The world must look at this cruel atrocity," Herzog said. "Those who care about women’s rights must speak out. All those who believe in freedom must speak out and do everything possible to bring all of the hostages home now."

Prime Minister Netanyahu also expressed his horror at the footage, describing it as "deeply disturbing" and calling for immediate action to secure the release of the hostages.

Video Source and Authenticity

The Israeli army obtained the video, captured on bodycams worn by the captors, and released it with the permission of the families. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated that the footage shows the violent, humiliating, and traumatizing treatment endured by the women. However, they noted that the video was edited to exclude the most disturbing scenes, although it is unclear who performed the editing.

Hamas has responded by claiming the video is "a fragmented clip that has been manipulated, and the authenticity of what is contained in it cannot be confirmed."

Specific Incidents in the Video

In the video, Levy tells her captors, "I have friends in Palestine." Albag asks for someone who speaks English, to which an enraged gunman responds with insults and demands silence. The captors then force the women to sit while another gunman blames them for the deaths of his comrades and threatens to shoot them.

The footage also shows Berger, with a bloodied mouth and shirt, responding to a gunman who asks where she is from. The gunmen later pray while the women, visibly terrified, sit against a wall. During the prayer, a gunman adjusting one of the captives’ bonds calls the women "scumbags" and "worthless," labeling them as "Zionists."

In the closing scenes, the captives are hurried to a waiting Jeep amidst the sound of gunfire. One woman is carried by her hands and legs, while another, Gilboa, hops on one foot due to an injury. The final frames show the women in the back of the vehicle, looking stunned as they are driven away.

Call to Action

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum continues to call for urgent action from the Israeli government to negotiate a truce with Hamas and ensure the safe return of all hostages. The release of this video underscores the urgency and severity of their plight. The families hope that the international community will increase pressure on Hamas to release all captives and bring an end to the suffering of those held hostage and their families.

Broader Context

The video release comes amid ongoing conflict and heightened tensions in the region. The plight of the hostages has become a focal point in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the human cost of the protracted strife. International human rights organizations have also called for the humane treatment and immediate release of all hostages, emphasizing that such acts violate international law.

Continued Advocacy

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum remains steadfast in its mission to bring attention to the hostages' plight and advocate for their safe return. They urge the Israeli government and the international community to take decisive action to resolve the crisis and secure the release of all captives.