The families of five female Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas in Gaza have released new video footage showing the militants’ capture of the soldiers near the Gaza border. The footage, taken by Hamas militants, shows the soldiers bloody and wounded, with one militant telling a terrified woman she is beautiful. Seven female soldiers were taken captive from the Nahal Oz military base, with one rescued and one killed, leaving five still held by Hamas.
The Israeli army recently declassified the video and handed it over to the women’s families, who have now made it public in an attempt to pressure the government into reaching a cease-fire deal with Hamas to free their loved ones. The families are calling for the return of all hostages and are urging the Israeli government to act quickly. Israel has released similar photos and videos from the Oct. 7 incident in an effort to garner support for the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The roughly three-minute edited footage shows armed militants binding the soldiers, with some images blurred to censor sensitive material. The soldiers can be seen interacting with the militants, with one saying she has friends in Palestine and another militant telling one of the women she is beautiful. Hamas has claimed the video is manipulated and unverifiable, denying allegations of physical assault on the women. The group stated that minor injuries and blood on the soldiers are to be expected in such operations.
The footage also depicts scenes of militants dragging the female soldiers, prayers being conducted in front of them, and some of the women being forced into a moving vehicle. One woman is seen hopping on one foot due to a leg injury, while another is held by her hands and feet, with her condition unclear. The families of the hostages are adamant that their loved ones are still alive, with one cousin stating that they can feel it and believe the hostages were not severely injured. The release of the video has sparked emotional reactions, with one family member describing feelings of nausea and distress.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a significant number of casualties, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting the deaths of about 35,000 Palestinians. The Israeli offensive was launched in response to the Hamas attack, with casualties include both combatants and civilians. The release of the video footage has added a new dimension to the conflict, highlighting the personal toll on individuals caught in the midst of the violence. The families of the hostages continue to advocate for their safe return and are putting pressure on the government to prioritize negotiations for a cease-fire deal with Hamas.
