"Evening shifts were dedicated to communications and PR for me, while nights saw me grappling with my emotions in bed." Avi Shimriz, father of Alon, shared these sentiments with the Israeli channel 12 last week. "My wife spends most of her day crying," he added.
The Shimriz family resides in Kfar Aza kibbutz, where Alon was captured on October 7th. Many Shimrzes live in kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip border and have long advocated for peaceful coexistence with Palestinians.
"We're a kibbutz yearning for peace. I have no doubt that there are people out there with whom we can talk. Not everyone's Yahya Sinwar," Avi stated, referring to the Hamas leader considered responsible for a series of killings a couple of months back.
Following the collapse of the first agreement with Hamas in early October, which led to the release of over 100 people, the Israeli government has come under increasing pressure to act in rescuing the remaining hostages in Gaza.
As more reports on detainee lives emerge, the general feeling in Israel and amongst family members is that time is running out. Over the past few days, this sentiment has intensified. Before news broke about three hostages accidentally killed by Israeli forces, Israeli authorities disclosed this week that five more hostages, found dead in Gaza, had passed away after their bodies were retrieved by soldiers.
"I'm overjoyed for every hostage returning alive, but I'm furious at decision-makers in our government," Avi told channel 12. "They should have released all of them."
"I don't trust anyone in our government. Is it your son trapped down there? My son remains trapped down there. My son has no oxygen. My son eats half a loaf of bread every day. I wish for my son to be here with me tomorrow."
Many relatives of hostages participated in demonstrations to ensure the government understood their message, but Alon's brother Yonatan voiced his doubts on Twitter about the impact of such demonstrations.
"In Israel, it feels like one's speaking to a wall. Demonstrations can be organized, hands held, candles lit, posters displayed, but the government only wants you to believe they're in control," he wrote.
Also on October 7th, Yotam Haim from Kfar Aza was retrieved. His mother Iris spoke to Channel 11 earlier this week, expressing her belief that her son would return, despite avoiding direct appeal to the government.
"Some people think if they don't scream, their children won't be returned. I tell them: We can achieve this peacefully through a respectful dialogue. The children will return, I have no doubt."
!(Links: Yotam Heim, Rechts: Samer Taraka IDF mistakenly kills three Israelis, held hostage in Gaza)
Speaking to Channel 11, Iris expressed her belief that the government and army are doing all they can. "How can I keep demanding 'Do something' when we've witnessed soldiers being killed while attempting to recover my son?"
The third captive victim, Samer Talalka, was from the Israeli Bedouin community. Talalka's father, Fouad, was amongst those who visited the United States this month to raise awareness about his son's plight.
In an interview with the Israeli online media outlet Ynet during his trip to the USA, he shared his frustration and desperation at being left in the dark.
"Bring back our children! How much longer can we endure? Two months have passed. Our family hangs by a thread. 'We don't know anything,' he said."
As the father of a captive son, he described the pain of watching as the first hostage exchange deal – not aimed at releasing Israelis – failed.
"Last week, we still had hope. They said they'd release the children and women, and we waited to see if we'd be the next lucky ones. We had no luck. Now, as people have renewed hope [...] the conflict starts anew," he said.
Additional insights:
International pressure is mounting on the Israeli government to facilitate the release of hostages in Gaza, with various organizations advocating for the following:
- Ceasefire and withdrawal: The international community is urging Israel to agree to a lasting ceasefire and fully withdraw from Gaza, which is a condition Hamas has set for the release of hostages[1][3][4].
- Humanitarian assistance: Calls have been made for Israel to lift its 17-year blockade on Gaza and ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance, including repealing legislation and ending disinformation campaigns against UNRWA, as well as ensuring respect for its operations and premises[5].
- Accountability and justice: The international community is emphasizing the need for accountability and justice, including granting international investigative teams and human rights monitors immediate and unrestricted access to Gaza to collect evidence of crimes and expanding ICC investigations to include genocide[5].
- Reconstruction efforts: The international community is advocating for a concrete plan to support Gaza's reconstruction, including financial and material assistance that aligns with the aspirations of Palestinians and does not violate international law[5].
- Diplomatic and economic pressure: States with influence in the region are being urged to apply diplomatic and economic pressure on both Hamas and Israel to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the ceasefire agreement, including support for the Hague Group to promote accountability and a political solution consistent with international law[5].
These measures aim to create a conducive environment for hostage releases and Gaza reconstruction, while ensuring accountability for past and ongoing human rights abuses.
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