Emotional Reunion as Asher Family Escapes Hamas Captivity
After weeks of anguish and fear, Yoni Asher finally embraced his wife Doron and their two young daughters. This heartwarming moment came as part of the hostage exchange deal between Israel and the radical Islamic group, Hamas.
Yoni's message was raw and emotional. In a video released on Saturday night, he said, "It's alright to rejoice, it's alright to cry, but I'm not celebrating, I'm not going to celebrate until the last hostages are back home." His family had been in captivity since October 7, when Doron, along with their two and four-year-old daughters and their grandmother, were abducted in the Gaza Strip. They had been visiting Doron's mother during the Hamas attack on Israel.
Yoni, a determined man, has been relentless in bringing attention to his family's plight. Even in Berlin, where his family holds German citizenship, he tirelessly advocated for their safe return. Unfortunately, Doron's mother was reportedly killed on the day of the Hamas attack.
Hamas, labeled as a terrorist organization by both the USA and the EU, committed atrocities on October 7. Hundreds of their fighters invaded Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking nearly 240 hostages in the Gaza Strip.
In response, Israel launched a series of attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas, around 14,800 people have lost their lives since. A ceasefire was agreed upon on Wednesday, lasting four days. Under this ceasefire, 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners were to be released.
The first wave of hostages was freed on Friday. Thirteen Israelis, including four with German citizenship, were released along with ten Thais and a Filipino. After initial transport by the Red Cross, they arrived in Israel. Four women and four children were then taken to Schneider Children's Hospital, where their physical conditions were reported as good.
While many celebrated the return of these hostages, Yoni's sentiments echoed caution. His family had been in captivity since October 7, and he couldn't help but worry about the remaining hostages.
Enrichment: The hostage situation involving Yoni Asher's wife, Doron Katz Asher, and their daughters, Raz and Aviv, along with their grandmother, Efrat Katz, began with their abduction on October 7, 2023, during a Hamas attack on Israel. The family was subsequently released as part of the hostage exchange deal in November 2023. They were reunited with their father in a moving reunion, with Raz, now five, expressing her joy, saying, "I dreamed we were going home," to which her father replied, "Now the dream came true, we’re home, that's it."
[1]: Background and details of release - Based on enrichment data.
