Families release images of 5 female troops from their first days held in Gaza

The families of five surveillance soldiers held hostage in Gaza release images from the women’s first days in Gaza captivity.

The images show Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy. All five, abducted from an IDF base at Nahal Oz, are still held by Hamas in the Strip.

One picture shows four of the young women sitting on mattresses on the floor of a room. Two of them have bandaged heads.

They are wearing clothes, some with bloodstains, that were apparently given to them by their captors. Bottles of water are shown on the floor, in a room that is apparently above ground in Gaza. They show signs of being injured and of marks left by handcuffs. A framed picture of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is on the wall behind them.

A picture of a fifth woman, Naama Levy, with a black eye and swollen face is also released.

An undated picture of surveillance soldier Naama Levy held hostage in Gaza that was made public by her family on July 16, 2024 (Courtesy)

The families also juxtapose the newly publicized pictures of the five with photographs of them as they were before being taken hostage by Hamas-led terrorists who invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Surveillance soldier Karina Ariev, who is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, pictured (right) in captivity in a photograph that was made public by her family on July 16, 2024 (Courtesy)

The release of the pictures comes just before the parents of the five hold a press conference to demand a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before his trip to the US later this month.

Surveillance soldier Liri Albag who is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, pictured (right) in captivity in a photograph that was made public by her family on July 16, 2024 (Courtesy)

According to Channel 12 news, a few months ago the families received the photos of their daughters being held in a home in Gaza, dressed in clothing that did not belong to them.

Surveillance soldier Agam Berger, who is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, pictured (right) in captivity in a photograph that was made public by her family on July 16, 2024 (Courtesy)

The outlet says the images were initially shown to the families by the IDF spokesperson and were among materials uncovered by troops.

Surveillance soldier Daniella Gilboa, who is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, pictured (right) in captivity in a photograph that was made public by her family on July 16, 2024 (Courtesy)

“As the return of their daughters and other hostages seems closer than ever, the families will demand an immediate meeting with the prime minister,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum says in a statement.

Surveillance soldier Naama Levy, who is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, pictured (right) in captivity in a photograph that was made public by her family on July 16, 2024 (Courtesy)

“They will plead with him to sign the deal before his trip to Congress,” the forum says. Netanyahu is set to head to the US early Monday ahead of his Wednesday address at the Capitol.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum released harrowing footage in May showing the abduction of the five female soldiers from the Nahal Oz base by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, describing the video as a “damning testament to the nation’s failure to bring home the hostages.”

The video was taken by body cameras worn by Hamas terrorists that day as they attacked the base near the Gaza border.

US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators have been working to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas that would see the release of the 120 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners and a ceasefire in the ongoing war. The war began on October 7 when Hamas led a devastating invasion and massacre that killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and saw 251 abducted to Gaza.