Family's Search for Answers Following Disturbing Live-Stream of Israel Kidnapping

Videos have surfaced of the Hamas attacks on civilians in southern Israel on 7 October. These videos show some of the targeted individuals being held in their homes and live-streamed by the attackers themselves. Relatives of the victims, desperate for information, are using these videos to understand what happened to their loved ones. Some have criticized the Israeli authorities for their lack of progress in finding the missing individuals. One family, consisting of Noam Elyakim, his partner Dikla Arava, her son Tomer, and Noam's two daughters Daphna and Ella, disappeared from the Nahal Oz kibbutz during the attack. The videos show the family being held in their home, with the girls visiting their father to celebrate the kibbutz's 70th anniversary. However, the authorities recently informed the extended family that Dikla and Tomer were killed, and their bodies were found outside the kibbutz. The fate of Noam remains unknown, although he is seen in the live-streamed video with a leg wound and later being led by the attackers down a dusty road. Concerns are growing that the girls are being held alone, with their father missing. One relative believes they are in Gaza and being kept in a tunnel by Hamas. Heartbreaking photos posted by Hamas allegedly show the girls in captivity, but their authenticity cannot be independently verified. The family is devastated by the situation, and they fear for the safety and well-being of the girls. While the Israeli military is committed to finding the captives, their presence in unknown locations in Gaza makes any operation challenging. The girls' mother, Maayan, is attempting to stay positive and has a message for her daughters, assuring them that they will be brought back safely. The BBC has only seen extracts of the live stream from inside the family's house, but it is clear that they were held against their will. Noam sustained a severe leg wound and appeared to be losing a significant amount of blood. The attackers also took Tomer outside the house to convince neighbors that the danger had passed, potentially to capture or harm them. It is unclear if anyone died during this incident. However, it is believed that similar tactics were employed elsewhere, contributing to the loss of life.