New Hamas video shows hostage saying two fellow captives 'killed in IDF strikes'

15 January 2024 , 19:19

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Noa Argamani, Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky

A new video released by Hamas shows the bodies of two hostages who have reportedly been killed in IDF strikes.

Just yesterday, Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky appeared alive in an undated video in which they begged the Israeli government to help free them from Gaza. In today's video, a third hostage, Noa Argamani, says the pair have since been killed in separate Israeli airstrikes.

Noa, 26, Yossi, 53, and Itai, 38, were among those taken by Hamas fighters during the 7 October attacks. Hamas has provided no evidence for the claim that Noa is saying under duress. And while the bodies are visible in the video, no formal identification has taken place.

Noa was thrust into the spotlight after a video posted to social media by Hamas showed her being dragged away by her captors. She is heard shouting "No, no!" in Hebrew while being forced onto a motorbike, sandwiched between two gunmen. In today's video, Noa is filmed saying: "I was located in a building. It was bombed by an IDF airstrike, an F16 fighter jet. Three rockets were fired. Two of the rockets exploded, and the other didn't.

"We were in the building with Al Qassam soldiers. After the building we were in was hit, we were all buried under rubble. Al Qassam soldiers saved my life and Itai's, unfortunately, we were not able to save Yossi's. After many days...two nights, Itai and I were relocated to another place. While we were being transported, Itai was hit by an IDF airstrike. He did not survive."

Israel strikes Lebanon and Gaza as leader warns enemies will 'pay heavy price'

Harrowing footage of Noa abducted by Hamas as she pleads for her life

More than 100 days into Israel's war against Hamas, Palestinian authorities said the death toll in the enclave passed 24,000. The Hamas attack into southern Israel that triggered the war killed around 1,200 people and saw some 250 others taken hostage by militants. Around half of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas were released during the short-lived November truce, but Israel says 132 remain in Gaza and that 25 have died in captivity.

It comes as the White House said it was time for Israel to "scale back" its military offensive, as the World Food Program, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation said that new entry routes need to be opened to Gaza and aid workers and those seeking aid need to be allowed to move around safely.

Rachel Hagan