A recent video released by the armed wing of Hamas has sparked widespread concern, featuring 19-year-old Israeli hostage Liri Albag, who was captured by Palestinian militants in October 2023. The undated, three-and-a-half-minute video shows Albag, a soldier, calling on the Israeli government in Hebrew to secure her release.
Albag was among seven women conscripts taken captive by militants at the Nahal Oz base on the Gaza border. Five of the women remain in captivity. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group for relatives of those abducted, stated that Albag’s family had not authorized the publication of the video.
The family released a statement expressing their distress, saying the video had “torn our hearts to pieces.” They appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, world leaders, and decision-makers to take action, stating, “It’s time to take decisions as if it were your own children there.”
In response to the video, Netanyahu assured that Israel continues to work tirelessly to bring the hostages home, warning that “anyone who dares to harm our hostages will bear full responsibility for their actions.” Netanyahu faces growing pressure from hostages’ families to reach a deal that will free their loved ones, with weekly demonstrations organized by the hostages forum.
The release of the video comes as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas resumed in Qatar. Mediators Qatar, Egypt, and the US have been engaged in months-long efforts to end the war. However, the conflict continues, with recent Israeli strikes in Gaza resulting in the deaths of five security officers and a Palestine Red Crescent paramedic.
The Israeli military claimed the five security officers had been “implicated in terrorist activities” and were not escorting aid trucks at the time of the strike. However, Israel’s restrictions on foreign journalists entering Gaza make it difficult to verify these claims.
The Gaza health ministry reported that 136 people had been killed over the previous 48 hours, with many children among the dead and injured. The latest killings coincide with the US President Joe Biden’s administration notifying Congress of a proposed $8 billion arms sale to Israel.
The proposed deal, which requires approval from House of Representatives and Senate committees, includes munitions for fighter jets and attack helicopters, artillery shells, small-diameter bombs, and warheads. The development has raised concerns about the potential escalation of the conflict.
In related news, the Israeli military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, the latest in a series of attacks by Houthi rebels in support of Palestinians. The ongoing conflict continues to have far-reaching implications, with global leaders facing increasing pressure to intervene and broker a peaceful resolution.
