Israel releases film of women soldiers being taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 | U.S. & World [Video]

By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli television aired previously withheld footage on Wednesday of five pyjama-clad female army conscripts being seized by Hamas gunmen during the Oct. 7 raid that triggered the Gaza war.

The captives’ families hoped the footage would increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree a truce with Hamas and secure the hostages’ release.

The Netanyahu government saw the release of the subtitled three-minute clip to national and international media as an opportunity to shore up support. Hamas defended its fighters’ conduct and called the video a bid to manipulate public opinion.

“These girls are still in the captivity of Hamas. Please don’t look away,” Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer told reporters. “Watch the film. Support Israel in bringing our people home.”

The footage shows the young women, all of them stunned and some bloodied, being bound and bundled into a jeep.

“I have friends in Palestine,” one …