Images of female hostages from early days of Hamas captivity released
In an effort to increase pressure on the government to finalize the hostage release deal before Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Washington, the families of the soldiers kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 have decided to release previously unseen images to the public.
Adi Nirman
Israel Hayom
Jul 16, 2024
Families of the female soldiers taken hostage by Hamas terrorists from the Nahal Oz base on Oct. 7 decided to release photos of their daughters taken during the initial days in captivity, showing them bruised and injured, in an effort to ratchet up pressure on the government to finalize the hostage release agreement before Prime Minister Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Washington. This follows the harrowing abduction video released a few months ago.
The images show Agam Berger, Liri Albag, Daniel Gilboa, Karina Ariev, and Naama Levy, who have been held captive for 283 days. 4 of the girls are seen lying on mattresses with a picture of Hamas' top leader Ismail Haniyeh in the background.
Albert Ariav, Karina's father, spoke out about his daughter's captivity in Gaza following the Oct.7 attack: "I see myself first and foremost as a father," Ariav said. "My two daughters, Sasha and Karina, are my whole world. Since Oct. 7, it feels like half of my heart has been held hostage. My little Karina, only 19 years old, is being held in Gaza.
"It's gut-wrenching to watch. Karina is sitting on a mattress on the floor, looking exhausted and hopeless. She has a disturbing bandage on her head with dried blood. You can see fresh blood stains on her pajama pants. There are clear marks on her wrists showing she was tightly bound. Her hands are swollen, suggesting she was restrained for a long time."
He notes that while the image shows just one moment, the full video reveals facial injuries likely caused by shrapnel when Hamas terrorists stormed the shelter at the Nahal Oz Base.
Ariav then addressed the current hostage deal under consideration. "We're closer than we've ever been," he said. He outlined two main objectives of the war: dismantling Hamas's military capabilities – which he credits to the IDF and security forces – and creating conditions for the hostages' return.
"The conditions have been met, they've come together, laid out one by one on paper just waiting for someone to pick up a pen. Waiting for someone to say 'yes' to the deal," Ariav stated.
He concludes with a haunting memory from the morning of Oct. 7: "I'll never forget Karina's words: 'Dad, I'm scared.' And I felt completely helpless, unable to do anything to protect her."
Agam Berger
Agam Berger, aged 19, is the twin sister of Li-Yam, born two minutes before her. She's a gifted violinist, playing since she was 8. She had only been in the position for one day when she was kidnapped from Nahal Oz base.
Her mother Mirav said in March, "Agam was supposed to be stationed at the Kerem Shalom crossing. At the last minute, they changed her posting to Nahal Oz. On Thursday, she went to the base. I sent her a video of us wishing her well. The very next day, just one day into being a field observer at Nahal Oz, she was brutally kidnapped."
Agam sent messages to her parents from captivity through the released hostage Agam Goldshtein, who was with her for a time. Goldshtein told the parents that their daughter observes Shabbat even in captivity. She described how Hamas terrorists ordered Agam to cook food, but she firmly refused to desecrate Shabbat. She even asked to wish her father a happy birthday, awaiting her return to him.
Agam's younger brother, Ilay, who celebrated his Bar-Mitzva a few months ago, told Israel Hayom: "It's very hard for me to celebrate without my older sister Agam. Even in the worst scenarios, I never imagined this important day would look like this. It's very difficult for me, I'm very sad. We miss her, it's just not the same without her."
Naama Levy
It was hard to miss the images of Naama's bloodstained clothes as she was led by Hamas terrorists to a military jeep that took her and her friends to Gaza. Her family spoke of her as a quiet and determined athlete, full of compassion and emotion. An optimistic girl who dreamed of making the world a better place. A girl who believes in the good in people.
Dr. Ayelet Levy Shahar, Naama's mother, said at an Israel Hayom conference: "My name is Ayelet and I am the mother of 19-year-old Naama Levy. I'm also the mother of Amit, 21, Michali, 16, and Omri, 11.5," she said in opening. "You all know my Naama. You saw the video of my daughter's kidnapping, and maybe like me, you looked away in pain, but you saw her dragged by her long, beautiful hair at the back of a jeep in Gaza, dressed in pajamas, handcuffed, bleeding, wounded, barefoot and afraid – those are horrific moments that turned Naama into a daughter of us all." In this previously unseen photo, apart from the other girls, Naama is shown suffering from a black eye.
Liri Albag
Liri Albag celebrated her 19th birthday in captivity. Her sisters Roni (25) and Shay (22) say birthdays have always been among her favorite occasions. She is a joyful girl who always pays attention to every little detail: "She always gets the whole house going a month in advance for a big event with all her friends. She always makes sure everything is beautifully decorated and also has the food she loves prepared for the event." Her sisters still hope to celebrate her 20th birthday together with her in Thailand.
Liri is an optimistic and strong girl. People who returned from the first prisoner exchange deal and met Liri in captivity told her family about the conditions she is held in. They noted: "She told us she loves us, that she's okay and misses us. We understood it was important for her that we know she's alive. She knows our family and knows we won't stop fighting for her. She asked us not to forget her and the other captives, to not stop fighting."
Karina Ariev
Karina Ariev, from Jerusalem, called her sister Sasha on the morning of Oct. 7 and said she was entering the shelter with her friends. "Slowly, as the minutes passed, she said there were terrorists in the area, and then you could really hear their voices and the shooting - as we're talking on the phone. Then she started saying goodbye to me, telling me she loves me, that I should go on living, take care of our parents, and that's where the conversation ended."
The family describes her as an innocent and gentle child who always looks out for her family and parents. "For her, family and friends come first." Her sister also said: "The longer we see the fighting drag on, the more we worry. Karina is creative and talented, loves to paint, sing, and dance, and wants to pursue a career in the beauty industry. She loves helping people and dreams of studying psychology and sociology. She has the ability to truly listen to people, she's a shoulder to lean on."
Daniella Gilboa
Daniella Gilboa was also kidnapped from Nahal Oz, and her family and partner of seven years, Roey Dadon, await her return home. Recently, while Daniella was held captive by Hamas, he proposed to her. Orly, her mother, later said: "Daniella and Roey have been together as a couple since 7th grade, both studying music at school. Just a week after that dreadful Saturday, they were supposed to celebrate their 7-year anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend. She was really looking forward to celebrating that weekend. A few weeks ago, we had a Torah scroll welcomed into our home, and the rabbi who led the ceremony understood that Roey had been her boyfriend for 7 years. He asked him if he had proposed yet and suggested Roey propose – and he did. Now he's waiting for her to return."
Daniella graduated with excellence from high school, majoring in music, and even recorded some songs awaiting release when she returns. Since her abduction, Orly has been fighting to bring her daughter home, wavering between great hope and despair. She admits not expecting to need so much strength for this long struggle: "In the first few days after the kidnapping, I told myself there's no way an event of this magnitude would go on for more than a few days, and I didn't think we'd reach months in captivity. I ask the decision-makers – think of your own daughters, as if they were there now, and make your decision accordingly. Do what needs to be done to return the captives because they don't have much time left.
Netanyahu met the families, now known jointly as the "HaKol Shelahen" (Their Voice) forum, for the first time Tuesday. A statement from the advocacy group revealed their demand for an urgent follow-up meeting with the prime minister. "With the return of our daughters and other hostages seemingly within reach, we are imploring the prime minister for an immediate meeting," the statement read referring to reported progress in the negotiations over the hostage release agreement. "We're pleading with him to sign the deal before his Congressional visit."
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