New footage, collected by IDF forces during an operation in Rafah, for the first time shows the six hostages who were murdered in the tunnel by Hamas terrorists in August 2024, lighting Hanukkah candles in a poignant moment in December 2023.
The hostages-Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lubanov, Almog Sarusi, and Carmel Gat -are seen praying, singing, and some even breaking into tears. In the background, one of them can be heard saying, "Touching Hanukkah, huh?"
In another recording, one of the hostages is heard saying, "Make a wish, friends. Candles are time." Another hostage replies: "It's always good to make wishes."
When one of them ponders aloud about a request from the past year and asks, "Did it come true? It's already been a year," she replies: "Yes, it came true," and he replies: "May all your requests come true for good."
The footage also includes other moving moments, in which the hostages ask the terrorist to light a candle for them, with a halachic explanation that it is forbidden to use menorah candles for lighting. At another moment, they are seen eating a doughnut and joking: "Roladin's doughnut."