On Wednesday, Israeli television aired previously unreleased footage depicting the capture of five female army conscripts by gunmen during the October 7 attack that triggered the Gaza war. The conscripts, clad in pajamas, were shown being apprehended and bundled into a jeep by Hamas militants.
The release of the three-minute clip, subtitled for both domestic and international audiences, was seen by the Israeli government as an opportunity to garner support for their cause. Government spokesperson David Mencer implored the public, “…Please don’t look away. Watch the film. Support Israel in bringing our people home.”
The footage captured the anguish of the young women as they were bound and subjected to verbal abuse. One of the conscripts, 19-year-old Naama Levy, pleaded in English, “I have friends in Palestine” to no avail. The gunmen’s taunts and threats were clearly audible in Arabic.
Hamas swiftly responded to the video’s release, claiming it was “manipulated” and its authenticity was questionable, alleging that it was part of Israel’s “promoting of fabricated narratives.” In an official statement, Hamas maintained that “the female soldiers were treated according to the ethics of our resistance, and no mistreatment of those soldiers in this unit was proven.”
The Hostages Families Forum, representing the relatives of the five captives, asserted that the footage was retrieved from bodycams worn by the gunmen who attacked the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel, where the women served as surveillance spotters. The Forum emphasized that “shots of slain Israeli soldiers were excluded, and publication was approved by the families of the five captives.” They urged the Israeli government to resume negotiations immediately.
The October 7 attack, led by Hamas, resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 250, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel launched an offensive against the Islamist militant group, leading to over 35,000 fatalities, as reported by Gaza health authorities. The Israeli military has reported 286 Israeli soldier deaths.
