Statement in English by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, January 15th, 2024

On October 7th, Hamas invaded Israel, murdering, raping, mutilating, and kidnapping people who only moments before were celebrating life.

38-year-old Itay Svirsky was visiting his parents on Kibbutz Be’eri, celebrating the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah. Itay’s parents were murdered by Hamas. Itay was taken hostage into Gaza.

56-year-old Yossi Sharabi was at home with his family. He hid with his wife and children in their home on Kibbutz Be’eri. He was kidnapped in front of their eyes.

26-year-old Noa Argamani was with her friends celebrating peace at the Nova Music festival before being seized by Hamas. The image of Noa on the back of a motorcycle, surrounded by Hamas terrorists, crying out for help — shook the world.

Itay, Yossi, and Noa are some of the innocent civilians being held in Hamas captivity. Yesterday, Hamas released a video of them, as though their innocent lives are pawns in Hamas’s twisted reality show of terror.

Hamas is weaponizing social media as an instrument of war. Hamas wages psychological warfare to terrorize and torment the hostages, their families, and the world.

This is a new benchmark in barbarism set by Hamas.

Humanity’s response to this form of terror must be as determined — as Hamas’s tactics are cruel.

We have gathered valuable information that we are currently looking into. We are in contact with the hostage families involved.

Noa Argamani’s mother is terminally ill. Her dying wish is to see her daughter once again. Noa was meant to be released and reunited with her mother as part of the Hostage Release Agreement that Hamas had agreed to.

But on December 1st, Hamas chose to violate its obligation, break the agreement, and reignite this tragic war.

Hamas is dedicated to death and destruction, while Israel is dedicated and determined to sanctify life and fight for every one.

Every life is an entire world.

Every minute is critical as we fulfill our critical mission: To bring our hostages home.