Israel released a gruesome video: "Don't look away" VIDEO

The families of the captured girls hoped the footage would increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a truce with Hamas and secure the release of the hostages.

The government saw the release of the subtitled three-minute clip to national and international media as an opportunity to gain support.

"These girls are still in the captivity of Hamas. Please do not look away," government spokesman David Menser told reporters, adding: "Watch the movie. Support Israel in bringing our people home."

In the video, you can see how the young women, scared and some covered in blood, are tied up and put in a jeep.

"I have friends in Palestine," says one of the recruits, 19-year-old Nama Levy, in English.

One of the attackers can be heard shouting in Arabic: "You are dogs! We will trample you, dogs!"

Another terrorist tells the captive, "You're beautiful."

In a statement, Hamas said later on Wednesday that the video "has been edited and the authenticity of what it contains cannot be confirmed."

"The soldiers were treated in accordance with the ethics of our resistance and no mistreatment of those soldiers in this unit has been proven," Hamas added.

The militant group said the footage was part of Israel's promotion of "fictional narratives".