Hamas members transport a kidnapped Israeli civilian from Nir Oz to the Gaza Strip at an undisclosed location between Israel and Gaza on October 7 (Photo: AP).
A photo of a white-haired woman sitting in a golf cart, wrapped in a purple blanket and surrounded by gunmen, is one of the first to emerge of hostages taken in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
The photo was taken at an undisclosed location between Israel and Gaza on October 7. The hostage is 85-year-old Adar, an Israeli civilian who was kidnapped from Nir Oz and taken to the Gaza Strip.
A month on, Adar’s niece now fears that the world’s memory of that harrowing day and the drive to free the roughly 240 Israelis held by Hamas are fading. So Adva and her brother, like many other relatives of hostages, have left Israel to try to find help in other countries.
They fear that memories of the day their loved ones were kidnapped will be replaced by news of horrific Israeli attacks, Palestinian deaths, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Israeli social media was flooded with images of torn-up missing persons flyers from hostages around the world. "It's scary to think that my grandmother being held hostage will be old news," said Adva.
Hamas has said it will release non-Israeli hostages, who come from 28 countries and account for about half of the total number of hostages it is believed to be holding. But while no concrete steps have been taken toward that plan, the idea has only raised new fears for families like Adar and other Israelis.
Ms. Adva asked the question, if all American or European hostages were released, would there still be an incentive to press for the release of others?
"The whole world should put pressure on Hamas to release the hostages regardless of nationality. I can say, my grandmother and my cousin have no other nationality. So it seems like they have no reason to come home and that makes me really angry," she said.
From shock and horror to frustration and anger
In interviews, some families showed signs of moving from shock and horror to frustration and anger.
The day of the bloodiest attack in Israel's history was also widely documented thanks to smartphones and social media. But relatives said they had little information in the days after their loved ones went missing.
"I'm really angry," said Tal Edan, the aunt of three-year-old Abigail, who was taken hostage. "The family buried and mourned Abigail's parents, Roy and Smadar, who died that day. But the Israeli government didn't tell us anything. They had nothing."
Families say Israel's overwhelming military airstrikes on Gaza raise questions about whether destroying Hamas or rescuing hostages is more important, or whether the two goals are mutually exclusive.
Many families are seeking help from other governments, such as Germany, France and the United States, with the tacit acknowledgement that Israel cannot guarantee the release of their loved ones.
"The priority is to get the hostages back before anything else. That should be the only thing on the table and I don't feel that in the government's strategy," Ayelet Sella, whose seven family members are held hostage in Gaza, said at a press conference with other hostage families in Paris on October 11.
Relatives hold up portraits of hostages held by Hamas during a press conference at Paris City Hall, France on October 31 (Photo: AP).
Meanwhile, Gilad Korngold, whose son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren are being held hostage, told reporters last week that an Israeli government official is in contact with the family three times a week. He said he believes the officials will do what they can for the hostages.
He said family members had German or Austrian citizenship and "I trust the German embassy". "Germany and Austria are not at war with any country. They have contacts with everyone in the world. I believe they can do it".
Asked if he believed the Israeli government had put the hostages' release at the top of its agenda, he remained silent. "I believed it initially, three or four days ago. But now I'm starting to lose faith because every day that passes we're getting more worried," he said, adding that the government was prioritizing the hostage rescue.
Relatives are speaking out
In London, sitting behind a photo of his 74-year-old mother, Ada Sagi, her son Noam called on “all governments in the world” to “bring the hostages home.” So far, four have been released, including two Americans, and one has been rescued.
For Oliver McTernan, who has years of experience as a mediator and hostage negotiator, the US may have a say in this. McTernan, who has been travelling back and forth to Gaza for the past 20 years, said there was no way the 240 hostages held in separate locations could be safely moved under the rain of bombs.
"I really hoped that the US would lead some European countries to help free the hostages. Israel should restrain its attacks... Think about what the consequences of this would be," he said.
However, Israel has so far rejected the ceasefire requests. On November 3, after meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to reject "a temporary ceasefire that does not include the return of our hostages".
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