Israel
Kidnapped female IDF soldiers still alive in Hamas tunnels, says mother
Israel reportedly received ‘a sign of life’ six weeks ago
July 17, 2024 10:18
Israel reportedly received ‘a sign of life’ six weeks ago
July 17, 2024 10:18The Israeli government received proof that female IDF soldiers kidnapped on October 7 were still alive six weeks ago, the mother of one has said.
During Hamas’s raid, Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniela Gilboa and Na’ama Levy were seized from the Nahal Oz military base.
Speaking this week, Albag’s mother, Shiri, told Ynet, “around a month and a half ago, we received a sign of life from the girls. We weren’t told more than that.”
She added: “We know the girls are alive. They have been surviving, in tunnels, for more than seven months.”
Albag previously claimed that the five women had been “held as slaves” in captivity.
Discussing a conversation she had with Noa Argamani, a former hostage who was freed in a rescue operation, she had said: “[Argamani] said that they were slaves, and so were the [female soldiers], including Liri…They cleaned the yard, did dishes and prepared food that they were not allowed to eat.”
While her daughter was initially held in a "luxury villa", Albag said, she was soon moved to an underground tunnel.
"After 40 days, they took her down to the tunnels. It's much worse. There is only salt water and not much food. No clothes to change into… I don’t want to imagine what they’re going through now.”
On Tuesday, the families of the kidnapped women released photos of their daughters looking stunned and bloodied in the early days of their captivity.
In the images, the IDF surveillance operatives can be seen sitting on the floor in front of a portrait of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Some have bandages on their heads.
Speaking to Ynet, Albag said the photos had been taken from a Hamas video seized by the IDF and first shown to them a month ago.
“Each family saw the part [in the video] of their daughter,” she said.
“We saw a staged video – [her captors] told her to say where she’s from and how old she is, ‘lie down and get up.’ She did whatever she was told, with tears in her eyes.”
The families of the kidnapped women are demanding a meeting with Netanyahu to push him to agree a deal that would see them released.
"The only way to get her and the other girls out of the tunnels is a deal,” said Yoni Levy, the father of Naama, at a press conference this week.
“Not a military operation or anything else – only a deal will get the girls out.”
Shlomi Berger, the father of Agam, said: “Mr prime minister, this is a personal appeal to you, first, close the deal. Then you can travel safely [to Washington] and return safely.
“This is not the time for trips when your presence here, at the most critical time for our country, is essential.”
Ayelet Levy Shachar, the mother of Naama, said she had declined a request to join Netanyahu as he travelled to America to address politicians.
“The prime minister asked me to join him on his flight to the US for his speech to Congress, and I explained that I cannot and will not feel comfortable joining him until I see that the negotiations regarding my Naama’s release are completed,” she said.
“This is not the time for trips. This is the time to close a deal and return the hostages.”