Official statements from the Israeli government or Hamas, or credible international news agencies

Hamas Releases Video of 19-Year-Old Israeli Hostage Liri Albag Held in Gaza for 456 Days

Jan 4, 2025, 04:03 PM

Hamas has released a video showing signs of life from Liri Albag, a 19-year-old Israeli hostage held in Gaza for 456 days. The video, which lasts three and a half minutes and is undated, features Albag speaking in Hebrew and urging the Israeli government to act for her release. Albag was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas at the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel, along with six others. One of those kidnapped was rescued, another was found dead, while the remaining five, including Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Naama Levy, and Daniella Gilboa, remain hostages. The release of the video coincides with the resumption of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Doha for a ceasefire in Gaza. Albag's family has requested that the video and images from it not be shared, emphasizing her severe psychological distress evident in the footage. Hamas's release of such videos is considered by Israel as a form of psychological warfare.