An armed female depositor stormed a BLOM Bank branch on Wednesday morning, and held employees as hostages as she demanded that her trapped savings be released so she can use them for her sister’s cancer treatment. The woman, who identified herself as Sali Hafiz in a social media post, brandished a pistol as she forcibly closed the branch for an hour until she managed to get her savings and fled. Earlier reports also claimed she was arrested by members of the General Security Authority, but some witness said the woman eventually left with cash in a plastic bag. The BLOM Bank branch, which has about 14 employees, is located at Beirut’s Sodeco intersection opposite the headquarters of the General Security Authority. Lebanon’s cash-strapped banks have imposed strict limits on withdrawals of foreign currency since 2019, tying up the savings of millions of people. Sali Hafiz posted a live video on Facebook stating the reason why she stormed the bank. Speaking to the camera, she said, “My name is Sali Hafiz, I’m here at the BLOM Bank to take the deposits of my sister who is dying in the hospital. I’m not here to fight or cause chaos. I'm just here to get my rights back.” She was also seen on video demanding the rest of her money from the bank employees. A statement from Lebanon’s depositors’ group have warned banks about ‘continuing to seize people’s money. “We will not stand idly by as banks continue to seize our money,” the group said. Another social media post from the depositor, accompanying a picture of her sick sister said: “My life, I will bid farewell to you as you go for your treatment abroad and so you can come back healthy and raise your daughter. Even if it costs me my life. May God heal you, the dearest to my heart.”