IDF soldiers in Gaza have discovered a video showing 8-year-old Ela Elyakim, recorded shortly after she was taken from her father’s home in Nachal Oz during the October 7th massacre.
The video depicts Ela standing in front of the flag of Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, saying: “I’m Ela Elyakim, the daughter of Noam, and I’m eight years old. And I ask that someone frees us from Hamas captivity.”
Additionally, the IDF released a photograph of Ela with her 15-year-old sister, Dafna, who was also abducted with her.
Both sisters were freed in a previous hostage deal after spending 51 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari commented on the video, stating: “The video, which is being released today for the first time, was intended to be used by Hamas for psychological terror.
“But Ela’s family asked us to share it with the world to expose Hamas’s terror, to expose Hamas’s cruelty, to expose Hamas’s barbarism.”
He further explained: “8-year-old Ela Elyakim told us that Hamas terrorists forced her to read from a script, forced her to change her clothes, and forced her to re-film this terrifying scene over and over and over again.”
He concluded: “Our hearts go out to Ela, her family, and all the hostage families. Please help us respect the wishes of Ela’s family by sharing this video far and wide. We will continue doing everything in our power to bring our hostages back home.”
{Matzav.com Israel}