“Family shares harrowing video of Israeli hostage abduction by Hamas gunmen”

The harrowing ordeal of Israeli hostage Naama Levy and six other young women taken by Hamas gunmen from a military base in southern Israel on 7 October continues to shock the world. The families of the hostages have released new video footage showing the moment the women were kidnapped, tortured, and taken to Gaza.

In the video, the gunmen can be seen screaming at the women, most of whom have bloody faces, as they are tied up against a wall and then forced into a jeep. The hostages are threatened and treated in a dehumanizing manner, with one of the gunmen telling them, “You dogs, we will step on you… we will shoot you all.” Despite the terror they are facing, Naama remains composed, telling her captors she has friends in Palestine and maintaining her reputation as a peace seeker.

Naama’s brother, Amit, who is campaigning for his sister’s release, has emphasized the urgent need for world leaders to push for a deal to secure the hostages’ release. He described the video as a difficult watch but also drew strength from seeing his sister’s resilience in the face of adversity.

As the hostages, including Naama, continue to be held for 229 days, the fear of further harm, including the risk of sexual assault, looms over their families. Naama’s mother, Ayelet, expressed the family’s desperation to bring her daughter and the other hostages home, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the actions of the Hamas gunmen and vowed to do everything in his power to bring the hostages home safely. The video serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis and the need for immediate action to secure the release of Naama, her fellow hostages, and others held captive.