Shocking: Hersh, Or and Elia are kidnapped wounded from the 'death shield' to Gaza

24 June 2024   

The Families' Headquarters for the Return of the Abductees published this evening (Monday) the video of the kidnapping of Hersh Goldberg Poland, Or Levi and Elia Cohen - as recorded on the cameras of Hamas terrorists. The video was published at the request of their families. The three were kidnapped from the "death shelter", after escaping from the Nuba festival in Ra'im. They have since been held captive by Hamas for 262 days. The video, which is approximately 2 minutes long, was edited and partially blurred at the request of the families. The first part of the video, which includes their stay in the shelter and the second part of their capture and loading into the terrorist van, were partially published in the past. In the video that was released, they were connected to the last part, which has now been allowed to be published by the IDF spokesman, and which is the journey to Gaza of the three wounded hostages with the terrorists, in the back of a pickup truck. The video shows, among other things, Hersh, whose hand was severed by a grenade thrown by Hamas terrorists into the shelter in which he was hiding, silent while the kidnappers cheer around him, pulling his hair and humiliating him. The video also shows his serious injury. Hersh Goldberg Poland arrived at the Nuba party with his friend Aner Shapira, who was murdered in the same shelter by Hamas terrorists. Hersh's hand was severed during the attack on the shelter. On April 24, 2024, Hamas released a video of Hersh from captivity - the first sign of life the family had received since he was kidnapped. Or Levi arrived at the Nuba party at 6:20 AM with his wife Einav. 9 minutes later, the attack began and Or and Einav also entered the same car, where Einav was murdered and from there Or was kidnapped to Gaza. Almog, Einav and Or's son, will celebrate his 3rd birthday tomorrow. Elia Cohen arrived at the Nuba party with his partner Ziv Aboud, her nephew, and the nephew's partner. When the attack began, the four fled to the shelter where Ziv's niece and his partner were murdered. Elia was kidnapped from that shelter, and Ziv and his partner were saved when she was buried under the bodies. The headquarters of the families of the abductees said: "The harsh video is a serious indictment of the neglect that has been going on for 262 days. Hersh, Elia, and Or were kidnapped alive and so they must return, today. After almost 9 months of fighting and in light of the recent operational successes, it is clear to everyone that the return of all 120 abductees is only possible through a deal. We must approve and implement the deal that will bring all the abductees home - the living for rehabilitation and the dead and murdered for burial." President Yitzhak Herzog issued a statement: "In the terrifying moments documented in the video of the kidnapping of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Or Levi and Elia Cohen - alongside the incredible courage they display, we also see the face of evil - in the form of Hamas terrorists who kidnapped, raped and murdered innocent civilians. "The world needs to see this cruelty, to cry out the cry of the kidnapped men and women who are strengthened by the barbarity of Hamas captivity, to take firm steps and stand by Israel in demanding that it act in every way to secure their release." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "The shocking video of the kidnapping of Hersh, Or and Elia tears our hearts and once again emphasizes the cruelty of the enemy we swore to eliminate. We will not stop the war until we bring all 120 of our loved ones home.".