The innocent young hostages at the mercy of heartless killers: These babies, toddlers and teenagers are among more than 150 Israelis taken hostage by Hamas

It is a gallery of unutterable heartbreak – the child captives of Hamas terrorists photographed in happier times before horror struck their families.

These babies, toddlers and teenagers are among more than 150 Israelis taken hostage after Hamas launched its murderous onslaught last weekend. 

Human rights groups are busy trying to track the kidnappings as evidence of war crimes, but for their distraught families there is only a harrowing wait for news.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was responsible for their care and well-being, and that Israel would ‘settle the score with anyone who harms them’.

Meanwhile, Hamas has claimed that it has hidden the hostages in Gaza but has threatened to kill them if civilian homes are bombed by the Israelis.

Twin sisters Emma and Yuli Aloni, aged 3

Dafna Elyakim (right) and her sister Ella are among those children being held captive 

Brother and sister Erez and Sahar Calderon (pictured) were taken prisoner in Nir Oz, a kibbutz next to Gaza where they lived

Stories of shocking cruelty lie behind each image in the gallery

These babies, toddlers and teenagers are among more than 150 Israelis taken hostage after Hamas launched its murderous onslaught last weekend

Amelia Aloni, aged five 

Ariel (left) and Kfir Bib (right) are believed to have been abducted from the kibbutz in southern Israel where they lived, and where their mother Shiri was a kindergarten teache 

Hamas has claimed that it has hidden the hostages in Gaza but has threatened to kill them if civilian homes are bombed by the Israelis

Sisters Raz and Aviv Asher (Aviv pictured) were taken captive with their mother Doron while staying with relatives near the Gaza border

Noam Avigdori, aged 12, is one of several who are believed to have been abducted 

Stories of shocking cruelty lie behind each image in the gallery. Sisters Raz and Aviv Asher were taken captive with their mother Doron while staying with relatives near the Gaza border. Husband Yoni saw a video of his family being loaded on to a truck with other hostages.

Ariel and Kfir Bib are believed to have been abducted from the kibbutz in southern Israel where they lived, and where their mother Shiri was a kindergarten teacher.

A photograph of Shiri holding Ariel, four, and six-month-old Kfir, surrounded by Hamas terrorists, was widely shared on social media. 

Brother and sister Erez and Sahar Calderon were taken prisoner in Nir Oz, a kibbutz next to Gaza where they lived. A video on social media appeared to show 12-year-old Erez being taken by gunmen towards Gaza, and the family also fear for the children’s 80-year-old relative Carmella, who was taken without her medication.

Yali and Neve Shoham were kidnapped with parents Tal and Adi from Bari kibbutz after it was attacked by Hamas gunmen, and a phone used by the family was tracked to Gaza. The child captives also include Dafna Elyakim and her sister Ella. 

Their family’s kidnap was live-streamed by Hamas attackers, who entered their home and shot their father Noam in the leg. He was later seen limping as he was marched across the border into Gaza.