THE FULL FOOTAGE: How The Six Hostages Tried To Hold On To Hope
[Full video below.] Fresh video segments delivered to the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters by the IDF on Thursday brought the public face-to-face with the final months of six captives who were murdered in Rafah in August 2024: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lubanov, Almog Sarusi, and Carmel Gat. The material captures the group’s attempts to cling to routine and emotional stability deep underground.
The clips, filmed at various points during their imprisonment, show the hostages trying to normalize the unbearable. They sit together over chessboards and decks of cards, snack on whatever food they are given, trim each other’s hair, and offer physical closeness and encouragement in the cramped tunnel space.
In one scene, Alex Lubanov is seen buzzing a fellow hostage’s hair while joking, “You could enlist today.”
Another moment shows Hersh celebrating a small victory, announcing, “I won at Rummy,” to the amusement of Eden and Carmel. Hersh then turns serious, declaring, “Let all of Israel know that I am alive, healthy, and everything is fine.”
As the 2024 New Year approached, the group tried to mark the moment by filming a cheerful joint message. They counted down in unison, ending their brief celebration with a spirited, “Happy New Year.”
Eden looks directly into the camera and offers her own message: “Happy New Year to all the families. We are waiting to come home. Happy birthday to my little sister, May – may you be happy and healthy. With God’s help, soon, this year, as they say.”
Another recording shows Hersh, whose hand had been amputated on October 7, attempting to reassure loved ones: “We are healthy, alive, they are taking care of us, we are okay. We want to come home. Happy New Year.”
Almog follows with a message full of longing and resolve: “Happy New Year to everyone at home. We will come back to you healthy and whole. Don’t worry. We are here, and we are here to return.”
Chanukah brought its own bittersweet exchange. As they tried to recreate the holiday underground, Eden asks, “Where are the sufganiyot (doughnuts)?” Laughter follows, and someone replies, “We should have asked for a dreidel too.” Hersh chimes in with a craving for normal life: “We’re waiting for Roladin back in Israel.” During their makeshift candle lighting, the hostages expressed their hopes for “miracles” and pledged, “We will continue to believe.”
Ori Danino, wrestling with the impossibility of observing the mitzvah properly, is heard saying, “We are in a place where we cannot truly light Hanukkah candles, because of bandits, wild beasts, and enemies. What we are doing now is a mitzvah. We are trying to fulfill the commandment – but we cannot.”
Another video shows the immense pressure of captivity pressing in. Carmel Gat, in a quiet but firm voice, pleads with one of the terrorists about Almog’s deteriorating condition: “It’s been too long like this, it’s not good. He needs treatment.” She adds, “I’m not a doctor,” emphasizing that he requires real medical help.
Additional footage reveals the six making their way through the damp tunnel passages where they were ultimately killed. At one point, a hostage takes in a rare moment of ventilation and exclaims, “Finally, fresh air.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
