The brother of Israeli hostage Naama Levy says the family’s decision to release a harrowing new video of the moment his sister and other hostages were kidnapped is to remind the world and world leaders that they need to push for a deal to secure her release. .
Naama, 19, and six other young women were taken by Hamas gunmen from the Nahal Oz military base on October 7, where they served as observers monitoring surveillance cameras on the nearby Gaza perimeter fence.
In a Hamas video previously seen around the world when she was taken to Gaza, Naama was shown with blood on the crotch of her pants, with her hands tied and her ankles cut.
Now, the families of Naama and four of the other women have decided to release more video footage shot by the body cameras worn by the Hamas kidnappers. It shows the moment they captured and tied up the teenagers, having killed others at the base.
Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find disturbing.
In the three-minute video, the armed men can be seen shouting at the women, some still in their pajamas, most of them with bloody faces. They are tied against a wall before being placed in a jeep with injuries evident.
The armed men tell them in Arabic: “You dogs, we will trample on you… we will shoot you all.”
One says in English: “You are beautiful.”
Naama, her face covered in blood, tells them in English: “I have friends in Palestine.” She had previously participated in a peace initiative between Israel and Palestine. Her family called her “a peace seeker.”
Naama’s brother Amit is visiting London to campaign for his sister’s release.
He said indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release agreement were “in a very bad situation.”
“We hope this video encourages all parties to come back to the table and understand that this is an unbearable humanitarian issue that needs to be resolved,” he told the BBC. “This may be the last chance to save them.”
Amit said that when he saw the video released on Thursday it was “very difficult to watch… seeing my younger sister with such… such a look”.
“I never imagined I would see her so scared and hurt,” he added.
But he also said he drew strength from the video.
“We feel like she’s handling the situation like the true superhero that she is, like a hero fighting for her life.”
Of the seven Nahal Oz observers who were kidnapped, one – Noa Marciano – was killed in Gaza. The Israeli military said Troops found his body in a building near Gaza City’s al-Shifa hospital in November.
Another, Ori Megidish, was rescued by Israeli forces during an operation inside Gaza in late October.
Teenagers Liri Elbag, 18, Karina Ariev, 19, Daniela Gilboa, 19, and Agam Berger, 19, remain in detention along with Naama. They have been hostage for 229 days.
After seeing the video of Naama with bloody pants when she was kidnapped and hearing testimonies from other hostages, her family fears the risk of sexual assault.
“It’s very, very difficult for us. It has been a fear since October 7th that has not abandoned me, nor anyone in the family,” said Amit.
“We realize that there is… there is a possibility, perhaps even a good probability, that Naama and other girls and men are being harassed. And it is a painful fear in an indescribable way. We just have to keep fighting for her to get out of this hell.”
Naama’s mother, Ayalet, said in a statement: “We only see in that video a fraction of the horrible things that are happening around her in the shelter.
“She is terrified and hurt, there is fear in her eyes, and she is saying what she can, she is begging for her life.
“The main priority is to bring her home, bring everyone home now.”
The Forum for Hostages and Missing Families said: “The disturbing video has been the reality of Agam, Daniela, Liri, Naama, Karina and 123 other hostages for 229 days.
“The video is a damning testament to the nation’s failure to bring the hostages home. The Israeli government must not waste another moment and must return to the negotiating table today.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “shocked” by the images and promised to do everything he could to bring the hostages home.
“The brutality of Hamas terrorists only strengthens my resolve to fight with all my might until the elimination of Hamas, to ensure that what we saw tonight never happens again,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
