Family of kidnapped IDF soldier Nimrod Cohen reveals new footage of his abduction by Hamas terrorists

The family of the kidnapped IDF soldier Nimrod Cohen revealed this evening (Monday) new images from the video of his abduction by Hamas terrorists.

Vicky, Nimrod Cohen’s mother, said today in a statement to the media: “As a mother, I have nothing left to do but to watch this in complete helplessness. The video we are about to show reminds me of the trauma of October 7. In a single moment, I was exposed to the video Hamas uploaded to social media, and I am no longer the same mother.”

Vicky added at the press conference: “I hear in my head the screams of my son, begging me to save him. You have no right to prevent my son from returning. You must commit that the deal will be a comprehensive one until my son returns to my arms. This time we will not leave the streets after you sabotage a deal. This time we will all be in the streets to make sure you don’t sabotage it. Together, we will make sure no one sabotages agreements. Let us show our elected officials our unique power.”

His father, Yehuda Cohen, added: “The video contains unpleasant things. It warns Simcha Rothman to go down to the shelter.”

In the evening, Nimrod Cohen’s family is expected to reveal new footage. The video, about half a minute long, was obtained by the IDF and given to the family, who agreed to show it to the public. On August 4, Nimrod’s mother shared on the social media platform 𝕏 that he was supposed to be released from the army that very day:

“Today it hit me—most of his service he is spending in captivity.”

About a week ago, a video was released that was filmed a week before Oct. 7, 2023. In the footage, Nimrod and his tank crew are seen, who were killed on that day. Tzipora Halfon, chair of the Volunteers Association for Soldiers, who filmed the footage, said she had decided to travel to the “White House” outpost near Gaza spontaneously, in order to encourage the soldiers on Friday before Shabbat began.

“They were so modest. They were embarrassed to come forward and take the snacks and sodas.”

“A touching recording, moving to tears,” said Merav Daniel, the mother of the kidnapped fallen soldier Oz Daniel. “From the moment the worst news came, every tiny piece of documentation and every small experience with Oz becomes something powerful and emotional. At the same time, the pain sharpens—that this is something that remains only as a memory and that we will never get to hug him again.”

Nimrod Cohen’s tank crew, Crew 3, led by Captain Omer Neutra, was dispatched on Oct. 7 to the border fence. The crew also included the loader, Sergeant Oz Daniel and the driver, Sergeant Shaked Dahan, who were both killed during the attack. Initially Neutra was thought to be alive after his abduction but later the IDF announced he too had been killed and his body is being held by Hamas.

After an initial investigation, it emerged that there were several technical malfunctions in the tank that led to a failure and the soldiers’ abduction. Their tank was not regularly in use but was transported by a carrier to the guard post.

Their tank caught fire from explosives and RPG fire near the border fence, close to the “White House” outpost near Kibbutz Nir Oz, where dozens of Hamas terrorists were documented nearby. This image—of the tank in flames and terrorists pulling the soldiers out of it—became one of the symbols of the helplessness and failure of the IDF on the morning of Oct. 7.