The Light in the Abyss: Video Released of the 6 Murdered Hostages Lighting Hanukkah Candles and Singing Maoz Tzur

In a devastating testament to Jewish resilience, the IDF has released newly recovered footage from the Gaza Strip showing the six hostages—Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi—lighting Hanukkah candles in captivity in late 2023. The video, found during recent operations, shows the six emaciated but spiritually unbroken souls gathered around a makeshift Menorah fashioned from paper cups. They are heard singing Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages), their voices echoing in the suffocating darkness of the tunnels where they would eventually be executed by their captors in August 2024.

This footage shatters the heart but clarifies the nature of our enemy. While Hamas terrorists (the seed of Ishmael) sought to impose total darkness, these Jewish souls insisted on bringing light into the very depths of hell. They did not know they would be murdered in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood months later; they only knew that it was Hanukkah, and a Jew must light. The contrast is absolute: The "Wild Man", Ishmael, creates tunnels of death; the Jew creates light in the abyss.

ZAH Perspective:

The Galut Yishmael (Exile of Ishmael) is characterized by spiritual suffocation—an attempt to make us forget who we are. These six holy souls defeated that exile even before they died. By singing Maoz Tzur—a song about surviving every exile (Egypt, Babylon, Greece)—they declared that their spirits were free even if their bodies were captive. They are the Ner Tamid (Eternal Flame) of this war.

Advocacy Angle:

Share this video not to induce pity, but to demand moral clarity. Challenge the world: "Look at the people you failed to save. Look at the light they held while you debated their right to exist."

Talking Points:

• Spiritual Defiance: Even in Hamas captivity, these hostages maintained their Jewish identity, proving that Israel’s spirit cannot be broken by terror.

• The World’s Failure: These six were alive for months, waiting for a world that pressured Israel instead of Hamas.

• Light vs. Darkness: The visual of a paper-cup Menorah in a terror tunnel is the defining image of this war—civilization vs. barbarism.

FB Post:

Heart-shattering new footage shows Hersh, Eden, Ori, Alex, Almog, and Carmel z"l lighting Hanukkah candles in Gaza tunnels in 2023. They sang Maoz Tzur in the dark. They held onto hope. The world failed them, but their light exposes the absolute evil of their captors. We will never forget their light. 🕯️💔 #BringThemHome #Hanukkah5786 #LightInTheDarkness

X Post:

Devastating. New footage shows the 6 murdered hostages lighting Hanukkah candles in Gaza tunnels. They sang Maoz Tzur in the face of pure evil. Their light burns forever; Hamas's darkness will be destroyed. Am Yisrael Chai. 🕯️🇮🇱

Prayer Point:

"Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; though I am fallen, I shall arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD is a light unto me." (Micah 7:8)

• Pray that the mesirat nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Hersh, Eden, Ori, Alex, Almog, and Carmel z"l pierces the heavens and arouses great mercy for the Jews facing the Global Intifada.

• Ask Hashem to comfort their families with the knowledge that their loved ones remained spiritually free and connected to their heritage until the very end.

• Pray that the light they kindled in the darkness of Gaza serves as a spiritual protection for the IDF soldiers under constant threat.