The families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip released footage Monday evening documenting the abduction of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Or Levy, and Eliya Cohen from what has been dubbed the "death shelter" during the Nova music festival onslaught on Oct. 7.
The approximately two-minute video, partially edited and blurred at the families' request, was made public at 7:00 p.m. It combines previously released segments with newly approved footage showing the drive to Gaza.
The harrowing footage shows the wounded, bleeding, and terrified victims being forcibly taken from the shelter where approximately 20 festival-goers had been murdered after fleeing. The video, parts of which were previously released, has now been combined with newly authorized segments showing the captives' journey to Gaza.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated, "This disturbing video serves as a severe indictment of the ongoing abandonment that has persisted for 262 days."
Goldberg-Polin arrived at the festival with his close friend Aner Shapira, who was killed. During the attack on the shelter, Goldberg-Polin's hand was severed. Hamas released a video of him in captivity on April 24, providing the first proof of life to his family.
Levy attended the festival with his wife Einav, who was killed in the shelter. Their son Almog will celebrate his third birthday Wednesday without his mother and with his father still in captivity.
Cohen came to the event with his partner Ziv Aboud, his nephew, and his nephew's partner. The nephew and his partner were killed in the shelter, while Cohen was taken captive and Abud survived by being buried under bodies.
Sigi Cohen, Eliya's mother, expressed frustration to Israel Hayom, "There's great anger that they're still not here. There needs to be a deal that includes everyone. We can't have a partial deal as [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu suggested."
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum emphasized, "Hersh, Eliya, and Or were taken alive and must return alive, today. Each passing day endangers the hostages and could jeopardize the ability to bring them home."
"After nearly nine months of fighting and in light of recent operational successes, it's clear to everyone that the return of all 120 hostages is only possible through a deal. We must approve and implement an agreement that will bring all hostages home – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for burial."
