Israeli Go-Kart Driver Ditches Championship Trophy at Podium for Picture of Sister Kidnapped by Hamas

Shiryn Ghermezian

Israeli racing drivers Guy Albag, left, and Yam Pinto, holding up signs of Albag’s sister, who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, at the CEE Championship in Slovakia, May 5, 2024. Photo: Screenshot

An Israeli go-kart driver won an international championship race in Slovakia recently, but instead of raising his trophy at the podium after his win, he held up a photo of his sister, who is still being held hostage by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel.

Guy Albag, 15, secured first place at the CEE Championship in Slovakia on Sunday and dedicated his win to his older sister, Liri, 19, who remains in Hamas captivity. Fellow Israeli driver Yam Pinto, who won third place in the same race, also ditched his trophy to instead hold up a photo of Albag’s sister on the podium.

After his win, Albag took to Instagram and wrote a heartfelt post addressed to Liri.

“My sister I miss you so much just waiting for that day when you come to us with your smile and laughs miss your voice,” he wrote. “They told me you said you didn’t want me to stop racing I hope you come back as soon as possible and see me win.”

In addition to murdering about 1,200 people during their Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel, Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists also abducted 252 individuals as hostages. Liri Albag is one of the roughly 130 captives to remain in captivity in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas, seven months after the attack. She was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz post in southern Israel where she was serving as an observer.

The Daily Mail previously reported that the Israel Defense Forces identified Albag’s DNA from splatters of blood found in a civilian home in Gaza where she was held captive at one point. Hamas also released a video on Telegram hours after Albag’s capture that showed her alive but scared, and sitting against a concrete wall with her hands tied behind her.