The full footage: How the six hostages tried to hold on to hope

The Hostages Families Forum released new footage, provided by the IDF, showing the six hostages murdered in August 2024 in a Rafah tunnel—Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lubanov, Almog Sarusi, and Carmel Gat—during their months in captivity.

The videos, filmed at different moments underground, show the hostages playing chess and cards, cutting each other’s hair, eating together, and encouraging one another as they tried to maintain daily routines and preserve hope. In one clip, Alex Lubanov jokes while giving a buzzcut: “You could enlist today.” In another, Hersh smiles and says, “Let all of Israel know that I am alive, healthy, and everything is fine.”

Ahead of the 2024 New Year, the hostages recorded a greeting together, counting down and calling out “Happy New Year,” as Eden Yerushalmi wished her family well and said, “We are waiting to come home… With God’s help, soon.” Other recordings show Hanukkah moments, with Eden asking, “Where are the sufganiyot?” and the hostages wishing for “miracles.”

The footage also documents difficult scenes, including Carmel Gat pleading for medical care for Almog Sarusi and the group walking in the tunnel where they were ultimately murdered. One hostage is heard saying, “Finally, fresh air.”

Join, follow and share ARUTZ SHEVA:

✉️ Newsletter: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/mo...

🤳🏻X (Twitter):   / arutzsheva_en  

📷 Instagram:   / arutz_sheva_eng  

📱Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FHTgEKAFxUw...

🖥️ Facebook:   / israelnationalnews  

▶️ YouTube:    / @israelnationaltv