"Hamas: Setting Hostages Free, One Step at a Time"
Gili Roman's sister, Yarden, was held captive by Hamas for a harrowing 54 days. After her release, Gili shared his family's ordeal with German talk show host Markus Lanz. October 7, 2023, will forever be remembered as a tragic day for Israel, where Hamas terrorists claimed over 1,200 lives and took 240 hostages.
During her captivity, there was no sign of life from Yarden. Hamas never disclosed the identities of those they held, and the International Red Cross didn't have concrete information about their whereabouts. Families of hostages did their best to pressure Hamas, organizing demonstrations and rallying support.
Gili and his family had a close connection with the German government and public, who advocated for Yarden's release. After a heart-wrenching 54 days, the family was overjoyed to hear that she had been released. The following night, Gili appeared on Markus Lanz's talk show, sharing his family's relief and sharing some of the details about Yarden's ordeal during her captivity.
Gili revealed that Yarden, her husband Alon, and their three-year-old daughter were kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri and taken to the Gaza Strip. Along the way, the family managed to escape and run into a forest. However, Yarden's strength eventually gave out, leaving her no choice but to surrender.
According to Gili, the living conditions for the hostages were harsh. They were not given enough to eat, and medical care for sick hostages was non-existent. Unfortunately, there have also been reports of sexual harassment of women. Fortunately, Gili assured listeners that Yarden managed to survive the ordeal relatively unscathed.
Gili is a committed advocate for peace and unity in Israel. Despite facing a ruthless enemy like Hamas, he continues to hold onto the hope of coexistence. He believes that a peaceful compromise is possible and wishes for a future where all Israeli and Palestinian communities can live together harmoniously.
However, Gili also acknowledges the reality that Hamas is an extremist organization that poses a serious threat to Israel. With terrorism still threatening civilians and the Israeli state, he stresses that Hamas must surrender. He has advocated for mediation and compromise for years but understands that Hamas's goals are to destroy Israel and kill its Jews.
Yarden's harrowing experience has shed light on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Efforts are ongoing to release the remaining hostages held by Hamas, with negotiations continuing. On February 20, 2025, Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including a mother and her two young children, and an adult. Families are still campaigning for the release of the remaining hostages as they pray for peace in the region.
Family members of the hostages are putting in countless hours to lobby for their loved ones' release. Yarden's family, even after her release, continues to advocate for her wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir. Efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe and swift release of all remaining hostages.
References:
[1] "Hamas returns bodies of four hostages via Red Cross in Gaza." i24NEWS, 20 Feb. 2025,
[4] "Hamas and Israel are preparing for the second phase of the ceasefire." CNN, 14 Mar. 2025,
[5] "Hostage Shiri Bibas' family demands her release as her husband and kids remain held captive by Hamas." Haaretz, 17 Mar. 2025,
