Israeli Girl ‘Killed’ in Front of Family; Hamas Militant Says ‘She Went to Heaven’ | WATCH – News18

The video of a man, woman and two children purportedly held hostage by Hamas militants is being widely shared on social media. The two children can be seen sobbing for “their sister”, who cannot be seen in the video, while the adults are trying to console them. A person, most likely their captor, shouts: “Relax, relax, she went to heaven.”

Israel-based journalist Hananya Naftali shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), saying Hamas militants have taken control of this Israeli family’s house. “Israeli family is held hostage by Hamas terrorists who took control of their house inside Israel. Just look at their faces. This is a crime against humanity. I demand world leaders to take action,” the journalist wrote.

From the subtitles in the video, it can be established that the children had an 18-year-old sister, who was purportedly killed in front of them. The girl says: “My sister died.”

Explosions, rampant gunfire, and sirens can be heard in the background as the adults try to protect the children. The militant holding them hostage is heard shouting at them, asking them to obey. “I wanted her to stay alive,” says the boy, sobbing into the man’s arms. “Is there no chance that she will come back?” asks the girl to which her mother replies: “No, no.”

As the four of them huddle closer, the woman says: “I cannot afford to lose another life…”

The content of the video could not be verified by news agencies.

There are numerous reports of Hamas militants taking Israeli civilians hostage in their own homes. Many are phoning media outlets as they hide inside with militants going from door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away.

In the worst fighting in decades, the death toll in Israel has risen to more than 200 with over 1,000 wounded while, on the Gaza side, at least 313 have been killed and over 1,700 reported injured.

An unknown number of Israelis were abducted as hostages, sparking dismay in Israel and massively complicating its military retaliation campaign. According to Israeli news website Ynet, “dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip”.

Two Thai nationals were among those killed, and other Asian nationals, thousands of whom work as farm labourers in the region, were believed to be among the hostages.

Gun battles raged Sunday between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters in multiple locations, including at a police station in Sderot where special forces “neutralised 10 armed terrorists”, police said.

“A lot of people have been killed,” said army spokesman, Richard Hecht, after the military released the names of 26 fallen soldiers. “We lost soldiers, lost commanders and lost a lot of civilians.

(With agency inputs)