CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Israel hostage families on Wednesday released the footage of seven female Israeli soldiers captured by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. The Hostages Families Forum in Israel released the video hoping it would pressure the government to make serious efforts to bring back the hostages still in Hamas captivity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had so far not agreed to any truce deal with Hamas amid the ongoing Rafah offensive.
The three-minute video showed the women, Israel Defence Force (IDF) personnel, sitting on the ground bloodied and bruised with their hands tied behind. They were captured from the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel.
The video, taken by Hamas militants during the attack, was released earlier but was withheld by the government. The video was released to the families by IDF after editing the disturbing parts.
An Israeli government spokesperson told reporters, “These girls are still in the captivity of Hamas. Please don’t look away.” “Watch the film. Support Israel in bringing our people home,” he added.
However, Hamas has called the release of the video a bid to “manipulate” public opinion.
In the video, the Hamas fighters were heard shouting and calling them names in Arabic. “I have friends in Palestine,” one of the conscripts, 19-year-old Naama Levy, pleads in English. Another gunman can be heard shouting back in Arabic: “You are dogs! We will step on you, dogs!” reported Reuters.
