Hamas armed wing Ezzedine al-Qassem Brigades, released a video on Saturday showing one of the Israeli hostages held in capitivity in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
In the three-and-a-half-minute propaganda video, Liri Albag, an IDF surveillance soldier can be seen urging the Israeli government to secure her release.
Eli and Shira Albag in a massage to Liri : "Mom and dad are fighting for you. You will come home alive. Mom and Dad promise you”
— Iris (@streetwize) January 4, 2025
Our hearts are breaking 💔 pic.twitter.com/TpUTFf9623
Albag, who is now 19, was deployed at Nahal Oz military base on Gaza border when the Hamas militant captured her along with six other women conscripts. Fifteen other surveillance soldiers were killed during the October 11 attack.
One of the seven captured women was rescued alive while the body of another one was recovered after she was killed in captivity. Besides Albag, the other women soldiers believed to be held hostages by Hamas are Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Agam Berger.
Responding to the video, the family of Liri said the video "tore our hearts apart". They added, "This is not the daughter and sister that we know. She is in bad condition, and her severe psychological distress is evident.”
Urging the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, world leaders and other decision makers, the family said it is time to take decisions "as if it were your own children there."
Following the video release, Netanyahu said those who harm the hostages will be held responsible for their actions. He assured the victims' families that Israel is working tirelessly to bring the hostages home amid pressure from citizens to strike a ceasefire deal with the Hamas.
Of the 251 hostages captured by the militants on October 7, 2023, 96 are believed to be still in Gaza. Israel claims that 34 of them are already dead.
