Recently, pro-Israel accounts on the social media platform X circulated a video claiming to show scenes of Israeli girls allegedly abducted by Hamas fighters on October 7 of last year while attending the Ra'im Music Festival in the Gaza Envelope.
The official Israel account on the X platform re-shared a report from the Daily Mail about the female captives seen in the video: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, and Agam Berger. It was accompanied by a caption: "Look at each and every one of their faces. Look at what Hamas has done to these girls. Imagine if this was your child. We will not stop until each day and every one of the Israeli hostages are reunited with their families."
Regarding the aforementioned report, the investigation revealed it discussed what was referred to as "the abduction of female captives from the Nahal Oz settlement near the Gaza border, in the early hours of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year." It conveyed the concerns and demands of their families for their return. The report highlighted Daniela Gilboa, aged 19, described by her father as a talented musician aspiring to become a singer. Likewise, Agam Berger was mentioned by her father as a gifted violinist with a promising future.
Are the female captives seen in the video civilians who were captivated during the Ra'im Music Festival?
The Israeli Press Confirms the Abducted Are Female Soldiers
Misbar's investigation delved into the true identity of the young women featured in the circulated video. This came amidst allegations portraying them as civilians kidnapped and assaulted by the resistance, which Misbar found to be misleading and inaccurate. The Israeli media itself confirmed that these women were female soldiers who held various positions within the army. The Times of Israel published several reports in October and November, indicating that they were Israeli soldiers captivated from the Nahal Oz military base after an incursion by Hamas fighters on October 7. An article from Israel Hayom mentioned Karina Ariev, aged 19, who served in a Gaza border monitoring unit on October 7 when Hamas militants seized their base and captivated her. The article also included a video segment featuring Karina's sister speaking about her.
Conversely, All Israel News published an article discussing the recent Daily Mail report, stating that the four captives are soldiers in the Israeli occupation army.
Meanwhile, the Israeli news site, Walla News, published an article last November. It quoted statements from relatives of the Israeli captives. Liri Albag's sister mentioned that their mother spoke with Liri on October 7 at 6 a.m., just before she was captivated. She indicated that three days prior to Hamas' attack, Liri had completed her surveillance duty for the Israeli army and was in Nahal Oz to start her training.
Misbar found the TikTok account of the captive Liri Albag, where she posted several videos wearing the Israeli military uniform.
The Times of Israel reported that 20-year-old Agam Berger, a soldier working as a communications monitor at the Nahal Oz base, was captivated by Hamas members on October 7 during their attack on the military facility.
Thwarting Israeli Attempts to Forcefully Free Captives
The video's circulation comes after Israeli attempts to release captives held by Palestinian resistance failed without negotiation. On January 8, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced the foiling of an Israeli forces' attempt to liberate one of their captives in the central Gaza Strip's Al-Bureij camp, resulting in casualties among the forces.
The Demands of Israeli Captives’ Families for Their Release
Media reports indicated the arrival of six families of Israeli prisoners held by Hamas in Qatar. Their purpose was to meet with the U.S. ambassador, Timmy Davis, to discuss the plight of the detained Israelis in Gaza and explore ways to secure their release. These actions are part of continuous protests urging the Israeli government to take more decisive steps towards their liberation from Gaza.
Additionally, on January 6, the Al-Qassam Brigades shared an image of the Israeli prisoner Yaron Blum. The accompanying text conveyed his thoughts: "The Zionist prisoner Yaron Blum, whose wife Shiri and two children, Kfir and Ariel, were killed by the occupation's aircraft while he was in prison, wonders: Will I bury them or will I be buried with them?"
The Ongoing Israeli Aggression on the Gaza Strip
The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip persists for the 95th consecutive day. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that the toll from the Israeli attacks has resulted in over 23,200 fatalities, with 59,167 others injured.
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