Hundreds of hostages remain held captive by Hamas as the war reaches a grim milestone Tuesday: one month since Iranian-backed terrorists invaded Israel and massacred 1,400 people.
As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) prepare to invade Gaza in an all-out assault to eradicate the bloodthirsty terrorist group and free the 240 hostages, the families of those kidnapped are desperately praying for their safe return.
Optimistic that their families would recover again, several loved ones spoke to The Post about how their relatives were enjoying their daily lives in Israel before Hamas fighters took them away and their world was turned upside down.
The hostages include a number-crunching matriarch and her three rambunctious children, a Maroon 5 fan serving in the IDF, an American-Israeli mental health teacher and her music-loving husband, and an Argentine-Israeli couple who He received a family visit during the holidays. .
Hagar, Ophri, Yuval and Uriah Brodutch
Hagar Brodutch and her children, Ofri, 10, Yuval, 8, and Uriah, 4, were kidnapped from the Kfar Aza kibbutz, about 2 miles from Gaza, one of the villages hardest hit during the October 7 unrest. .
Distraught father Avihai Brodutch, 42, said his family was brutally kidnapped when he left them in the safe room of his home while he went out to help others during the attack.
He described his wife, 40, as a staple in the community: a financial genius who helped her neighbors when they had problems with banks or lending agencies.
Avihai Brodutch, center, watched as his wife Hagar and sons Ofri, 10, Yuval, 8, and Uriah, 4, were taken from him on Oct. 7.AP
“She was the kind of person who would solve everyone’s problems,” Avihai said. “She was in charge of the kibbutz business center.”
Hagar also loved baking croissants and other French pastries for her family.
But the aroma of freshly baked goods in Avihai’s home has now faded, along with the sound of his guitar and the David Bowie and John Lennon soundtracks that Ofri loved to play.
Avihai has continued to call for the immediate release of children and women held hostage by Hamas. News Licenses / MEGA
Tuesdays were also when young Yuval turned on his XBox to play Minecraft with his friends, and when Uriah left mud all over the house after playing with his toy tractors.
A month after his peaceful daily life was abruptly interrupted, Avihai cried as he wished for his immediate release.
“I want the world to focus on at least letting the children and women out of there,” Avihai said. “Children should not be part of any conflict. “Children should not be held hostage.”
Roni Eshel
Roni Eshel, 19, is a rookie IDF soldier who enlisted after graduating high school and quickly found a “Band of Sisters” while stationed at a base in Nahal Oz.
Her uncle, Elad Levy, 49, described his niece as a typical teenager who loved being with her family and driving them around after getting her driver’s license.
Eshel is a huge fan of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, and was thrilled to see Maroon 5 last year with her family during their long-awaited show in Israel.
Roni Eshel, 19, was stationed at a base in Nahal Oz when it was attacked by Hamas. AP
Levy also described the teen as responsible and diligent, known in her neighborhood as the babysitter parents would trust with their children.
She brought those characteristics to the IDF, Levy said, as she often worked at the base’s security monitoring station, observing rocket fire and violent demonstrations coming from Gaza.
At that time, Levy said her family would reach out to her, but she assured them at all times that she was safe.
He even insisted that he was safe in his last message to his family on October 7, just before his base was attacked.
Eshel, who was serving in the IDF, likes listening to pop music and taking her family around by car. Facebook/Roni Eshel
Levy asked his government to do everything possible to rescue his niece and the other hostages. He said that he agrees that there can be no discussion about a ceasefire until the hostages are free.
“What bothers us is that a whole month has passed and since then we haven’t really seen the status of the hostages,” he said. “We should not talk about sending more aid to Gaza until we know more about the hostages and the crisis they are going through.”
Gadi and Judih Weinstein Haggai
American-Israeli citizens Gadi and Judih Weinstein Haggai were on their usual morning walk outside Kibbutz Nir Oz when they were ambushed by Hamas terrorists, their family said.
Gadi, 73, is a talented musician and chef, and his wife, Judih, 70, is a retired English teacher. Despite retiring, Judih continued to work in education, said her niece Ofri Haggai.
The beloved grandmother used to teach classes on mindfulness and meditation, specifically working with children to help them manage the stress caused by the constant rocket fire between Israel and neighboring Gaza.
Gadi and Judih Weinstein Haggai were taking their usual morning walk when Hamas terrorists shot and kidnapped them.
Judih would probably be teaching another class now while Gadi would be practicing his variety of instruments if it weren’t for the terrorist attack, which left them “seriously injured” after Hamas gunmen shot them, Ofri said.
They would also enjoy their regular walks around their kibbutz and find ways to entertain their four children and seven grandchildren.
“They were both wonderful, peaceful people,” Ofri said. “Theirs is a beautiful relationship.”
Luis Har and Clara Marman
Luis Norberto Har was hiding in the safe room of his home in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak when he was kidnapped along with his partner, Clara Marman, 62, his siblings Fernando Marman and Gabriela Leimberg, and his niece Mia Leimberg.
Har’s daughters, Rinat Har Sheleg and Natali Har, told reporters Monday in New York that they were in contact with their father just before Hamas took him away.
“They are inside,” he texted them after the terrorist broke in on the morning of October 7. The family’s phones were later traced to a location in Gaza.
Luis Norberto Har was hiding with his family in their safe room at Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak when Hamas kidnapped them. His partner, Clara Marman, was a teacher for 30 years and helps take care of the children in her town. Har’s daughters, Rinat Har Sheleg and Natali Har, sobbed as they pleaded for their father’s safe return. J. Messerschmidt for the New York Post
Har and his relatives have dual Argentine-Israeli citizenship and Mia, 18, visited the kibbutz over the holiday weekend, according to the Times of Israel.
Maayan Sigal-Koren, Marman’s daughter, described her mother as “the warmest woman in the world,” noting that she worked as a kindergarten teacher for 30 years, according to the organization Bring Them Back, which advocates for the liberation of children. hostages taken. by Hamas.
Before being kidnapped, she spent time babysitting children at the kibbutz. Her sister, Gabriela, was director of Eyal’s Farm, a ranch for autistic adults in Jerusalem.
“Things for the family will never be the same,” Har’s daughters told reporters in the Big Apple on Monday. “There is no going back to the days before October 7.”
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn