An unconscious woman taken hostage by Gaza militants attacking an Israeli music festival was seen being paraded around the coastal enclave in new video authenticated and geolocated by CNN.
CNN has confirmed the identity of the woman as Shani Louk, a German-Israeli dual national. CNN has reached out to her family for comment but has not yet received a response.
Her cousin confirmed to The Washington Post that Louk attended the Nova Festival, an all night dance party celebrating the Israeli harvest festival Sukkot near Re’im, Israel.
Louk is seen motionless in the video.
One gunman, carrying a rocket propelled grenade, has his leg draped over her waist; the other holds a clump of her dreadlocks. “Allahu Akbar,” they cheer – “God is Great,” in Arabic.
Some of the crowd gathered around the truck, just outside of the Al-Shalfoh bakery and grocery store, join in the cheers. One man spits on Louk’s head as the car drives off.
CNN does not know Louk’s whereabouts, or condition, at this time. CNN is not airing the video because it is graphic and disturbing.
“We recognized her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks,” Louk’s cousin told The Washington Post.
“We have some kind of hope,” she continued. “Hamas is responsible for her and the others.”
A German foreign ministry source told CNN that, “The Federal Foreign Office and the German embassy in Tel Aviv are in close contact with the Israeli authorities in order to clarify whether and to what extent German citizens are affected.”
In video obtained by German news outlet Bild, Louk’s mother Ricarda spoke directly about the abduction.
“This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas,” she said. “We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip. I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much.”
