Today, Wednesday, Israeli television broadcast footage for the first time of five female army recruits being detained by militants of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack last October 7.
The families of the female soldiers expressed their hope that the footage would increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a truce with the movement and secure the release of prisoners detained in Gaza, noting that it was published in conjunction with the holding of a session of the Israeli War Council.
On the other hand, the government saw the publication of the 3-minute clip in local and international media as an opportunity to mobilize support for it.
Government spokesman David Mincer told reporters, “These girls are still in captivity by Hamas. Please do not look away. Watch the footage. Support Israel in repatriating our citizens.”
The footage shows the female recruits being detained by Hamas gunmen, and then taken to a jeep.
One of the female soldiers, Naama Levy (19 years old), said in English, pleadingly, “I have friends in Palestine.”
Back to negotiations
The Prisoners’ Families Forum, which represents relatives of 124 people, most of them civilians, who are still detained by Hamas, said that the footage was obtained from cameras installed on the helmets and heads of the militants who attacked the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel, where female soldiers were working in surveillance and reconnaissance.
The forum added that footage of dead Israeli soldiers was excluded, and that the families of the five female soldiers agreed to publish footage of their detention.
The forum said, “The Israeli government must not waste another moment. It must return to the negotiating table today.”
Netanyahu’s government says that continued military pressure will force Hamas to surrender and release the prisoners it holds, while their families fear for their lives in light of the escalation of daily bombing of Gaza, and the fear of a complete invasion of the city of Rafah, south of the Strip.
Since last October 7, Israel has launched a continuous aggression against the Gaza Strip, which has left tens of thousands martyred, wounded and missing, and caused famine and an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis, according to international and international reports.
