As the war in Gaza continues to rage, around 100 hostages remain in the captivity of thxe Palestinian militant group Hamas. Amid growing hostilities, Hamas has released a video of 19-year-old Liri Albag.
Albag was captured along with six other females at Nahal Oz base near the Gaza border in 2023.
In the video, the 19-year-old girl appeals to the Israeli government in Hebrew to work towards the release of her and other hostages.
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Since the start of the war in 2023, Hamas has released videos of Israeli hostages in custody. In the 2023 attack, Hamas captured around 250 hostages, of which around 100 still remain in Gaza.
However, as per the Israeli military, around 34 of the hostages in Gaza are presumed to be dead.
Reacting to the video and to their daughter, Eli and Shira Albag called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, and told them that the negotiating team should not return without an agreement.
As per the statement released from Bring Them Home Now, Liri's father says - "Dear people of Israel, today we received a sign of life from Liri. We saw a video that was difficult to watch. This isn't the Liri we know. Today we spoke with the Prime Minister, President, IDF Chief of Staff, and Defense Minister, and we told them to make a deal. This is the time. There's Liri and 99 other hostages who need to return home quickly."
"Liri, if you're hearing us, tell the others that all the families are moving heaven and earth and want their children home, and we will fight until all hostages are returned," her parents added further.
This video comes after ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas were revived in Qatar. Mediator countries Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been engaged in months of effort that have failed to end the war in Gaza.
Meanwhile, as negotiations continue, the families of the hostages continue to protest across Israel calling on the Netanyahu government for urgent action.
Israel-Gaza War: Over 45,000 Killed As Israeli Bombardment Continues
The war on Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a terror attack in southern Israel - killing at least 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, cutting off electricity, power and water to the war-torn strip. Since then, the Gaza Strip has been subject to relentless bombardment from the Israeli military.
The war in Gaza has killed around 45,000 Palestinians, of which, women and children have been attributed as a majority of the death toll.
