Family of now 19-year-old conscript Liri Albag appeals to PM to ‘take decisions as if it were your own children there’. The armed wing of Hamas has released a video it says is of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza since its October 2023 attack. Liri Albag, described by local media as a soldier, was 18 when she was captured by Palestinian militants at the Nahal Oz base on the Gaza border along with six other women conscripts, five of whom remain in captivity.
In the undated, three-and-a-half-minute video recording, Albag, now 19, called in Hebrew for the Israeli government to secure her release. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group for relatives of those abducted, said the family has not authorised publication of the video.
The family said in a statement that the video had “torn our hearts to pieces”, adding: “This is not the daughter and sister we know. Her severe psychological distress is evident. “We appeal to the prime minister, world leaders and all decision-makers: it’s time to take decisions as if it were your own children there.”.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in response to the video that Israel continued to work tirelessly to bring the hostages home, adding: “Anyone who dares to harm our hostages will bear full responsibility for their actions.”. He is under growing pressure from hostages’ families to reach a deal that will free their loved ones, with weekly demonstrations organised by the hostages forum, the latest in Tel Aviv on Saturday.
