The household of 19-year-old Liri Albag, an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, stated she appears to be like “damaged and shattered” in a current video launched by the militant group on Saturday. In the three-and-a-half-minute footage, Ms Albag, visibly distressed, speaks of being held for over 450 days.
“Today we acquired an indication of life from Liri; the video is tough to look at,” her mom, Shira Albag, stated in an announcement. “This isn’t the Liri we all know. This is the shadow of Liri.”
שירה אלבג, אמה של לירי אלבג: ״עם ישראל היקר, קיבלנו היום אות חיים מלירי; סרטון שלנו קשה לראות. זאת לא לירי שאנחנו מכירים. רה״מ דיבר איתנו, נשיא המדינה, הרמטכ״ל, שר הביטחון ואמרנו להם שיעשו עסקה. זה הזמן. יש את לירי ועוד 99 חטופים שצריכים לחזור הביתה במהרה> pic.twitter.com/hjBHYKxXMP
— Raz Shechnik (@RazShechnik) January 4, 2025
“This isn’t the identical daughter and sister that we all know. She is in unhealthy situation, and her tough psychological state is clear,” the household stated in an extended assertion cited by the Times of Israel. “The always-strong Liri appears to be like damaged and shattered.”
Liri Albag, a surveillance soldier stationed on the Nahal Oz navy base close to the Gaza border, was amongst 251 people kidnapped throughout Hamas’s assault on southern Israel. Of the seven surveillance troopers taken, one was rescued, and one other was discovered useless in captivity. Liri Albag and 4 others – Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Naama Levy, and Daniella Gilboa – stay in Gaza.
“This is the time. There is Liri and 99 different hostages who have to return residence quickly,” Ms Albag’s mom stated. “Every day in Hamas’s hell in Gaza poses a direct threat of demise to the residing hostages and endangers the power to get well the fallen for correct burial.”
The Albag household appealed on to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the federal government to prioritise the hostages’ launch. “We noticed our heroic Liri survive and beg for her life. She is a number of dozen kilometres from us, and for 456 days we’ve got been unable to carry her residence,” they stated. “Make choices concerning the hostages as in case your youngsters have been there. Liri is alive and should come again alive! It relies upon solely on you.”
The October 7 assault by Hamas, backed by allied teams, killed about 1,200 Israelis. Since then, Israel has relentlessly focused colleges, hospitals, neighbourhoods, and camps housing internally displaced individuals. The Benjamin Netanyahu-led authorities, with unwavering assist from the United States, nonetheless continues its offensive in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have killed over 45,000 Palestinians and left almost the whole inhabitants of the densely packed territory displaced.