US EditionNew Footage Shows Six Israeli Hostages Celebrating Jewish Holiday, Months Before They Were Killed
The footage shows six Israeli hostages lighting Hanukkah candles in Gaza tunnels before their murder, recovered by IDF during a raid and shared with families six weeks ago.
- Thursday, the IDF released full footage showing six Israeli hostages lighting Hanukkah candles in a Hamas tunnel, airing the material on Uvda; the army said the videos provide raw testimony of their underground captivity.
- Military Intelligence said the files were recovered about three months ago during a Khan Younis raid and delivered to families about six weeks ago, with releases staggered to protect live hostages.
- The footage shows the six hostages standing and lighting candles in a dark tunnel, identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Carmel Gat, reciting blessings and singing despite captors' presence.
- The release is likely to reopen national wounds from the October 7 attacks and intensify calls to recover remaining hostages; all six were murdered in late August, then‑IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said they were `killed brutally shortly before our forces reached them`.
- Personal details about Lobanov, Gat and others underline how families were affected during captivity, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, wounded and abducted from Re'im music festival.
62 Articles
62 Articles
Before Their Deaths, Hostages Seen Celebrating Hanukkah
New footage of six Israeli hostages shows them celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah while being held captive in a tunnel in Gaza, several months before they were killed. Israel said all six were killed last August by Hamas, shortly before Israeli troops arrived. The videos and photos were published...
Chanukah in Terror Tunnels: Footage of Jewish Hostages Lighting Candles Evokes the Holocaust—All Were Later Murdered by Hamas
The footage evokes the darkest echoes of Jewish history — Jews huddled in Nazi camps, clinging to faith under the shadow of annihilation. Deep beneath Gaza, Jewish hostages tried to light Chanukah candles inside Hamas terror tunnels, grasping for dignity in a place built to erase it. You can hear the terror in Carmel Gat’s voice as she endures captivity; she would later be murdered by Hamas, along with Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alex…
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In Israel, newly released video recordings are causing deep concern. The army presents material that comes from Hamas tunnels and shows Israeli hostages ignite Hanukkah candles – before being murdered by the terrorists.
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