Hamas has released a video of Liri Albag, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, as negotiations for a new ceasefire in Gaza intensify.
The undated footage shows Albag, one of five female soldiers kidnapped during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, expressing anguish and pleading for her release after being held hostage for 450 days.
Speaking in Hebrew, Albag calls on the Israeli government to act, stating: “Today is the beginning of a new year; the whole world is celebrating. Only we are entering a dark year, a year of loneliness.”
He also mentions that one of his fellow captives was injured and describes his ordeal as “an extremely terrifying nightmare.”
The soldier's family reacted with anguish and described the video as heartbreaking.
The family, which authorized the publication of two photographs but not the video itself, also appealed to those responsible for making decisions: “Today's video has broken our hearts. This is not the daughter and sister we know. He is not feeling well; His serious psychological discomfort is evident.
“We saw our heroic Liri survive and beg for her life. She is only tens of kilometers from us and yet for 456 days we have not been able to bring her home.
“We call on the Prime Minister, world leaders and all decision makers: It's time to make decisions as if your own children were there!
“Liri is alive and must return alive! This depends only on you! You must not miss this current opportunity to bring them back. All.”
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