IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari revealed a chilling video from the tunnel in Rafah where six hostages—Hirsch Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, Carmel Gat, and Alex Lubanov—were murdered late last month after being held in inhumane conditions. After presenting the footage to the families, it was decided, with their approval, to show the video to the public to expose the brutality of Hamas and encourage international pressure on the terrorist organization.
The footage is important but difficult to watch.
In the video, Hagari is seen squeezing into a narrow shaft, 20 meters deep, hidden directly beneath a children’s room decorated with images of Snow White and Mickey Mouse. The tunnel was concealed behind civilians to make it difficult for the IDF to locate.
When Hagari reaches the 120-meter-long tunnel, he demonstrates how its low height does not allow a person to stand upright. He is seen sweating and struggling with the extreme heat, explaining that the humidity levels are unbearable.
The IDF spokesperson shows a dried pool of blood where the hostages were killed, urine-filled bottles they had to use, a chessboard, women’s clothes, hygiene products, a hairbrush, alongside mobile explosives and Kalashnikov magazines belonging to the terrorists, as well as scattered shell casings—possibly used in the execution of the hostages.
Also visible in the footage is a bucket likely used as a makeshift toilet and Qurans belonging to the terrorists. “Everything will be taken, everything will be documented,” Hagari noted.
Later in the video, Hagari points to the spot where the murders took place. “This is the point in the tunnel where the hostages were murdered. You can see their blood on the floor here. These were the final moments of Hirsch, Eden, Carmel, Ori, Almog, and Alex. Here, they were brutally killed,” Hagari painfully mourned.
“We need to learn well from what happened here. It’s extremely hard to survive in these conditions. They were heroes—heroes who were murdered in cold blood by ruthless terrorists who build tunnels under children’s rooms and hide in them with hostages. They chose to murder the hostages and attempt to flee,” Hagari added.
The IDF spokesperson promised that all intelligence will be gathered and “no evidence will be left behind” to ensure the killers are brought to justice. First and foremost, additional information will be provided to the families, so they can better understand what their loved ones endured in their final moments, offering some solace.
As expected, the living conditions in the tunnel were dire. Eden’s mother, Shirit, recounted how she asked Hagari if it was hot in the tunnel, to which he replied, “It was a catastrophe.” The mother said she was devastated when watching the video: “My heart broke, the pain was immense. The tunnel was so narrow, with no air, and so hot.” She added, “I believe what kept them going, especially Eden, was the fact they were together. They were six brave hostages, and each one of them was a whole world to their family. I believe they gave each other strength.”
After the video was released, IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari stated: “We showed the families of Hirsch, Eden, Carmel, Alex, Almog, and Ori, may their memories be a blessing, footage from the tunnel in Rafah where we found them. All the findings you saw in the tunnel were taken for investigation. We are thoroughly examining the materials and following every lead to reach the terrorists responsible for this horrific crime.”
