As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, Israeli families continue to pray for the release of the hostages.
The war has been going on for six months, and Israeli families are demanding the return of their loved ones, including Liran Berman, whose twin brother is a Hamas hostage.
“It’s a roller coaster of emotions. It’s almost like hell,” he said. CBN News. “There are no good days, but there are good moments.”
Berman traveled almost tirelessly to tell his story, wearing a message around his neck that read, “Bring them home.”
To date, approximately 134 hostages have been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7. Belmon and others like him are urging Qatari leaders to tell Hamas to release the hostages.
“We know they are a key player who can facilitate deals, and we saw them facilitate the first deal,” Berman explained.
Simona Steinbreacher is another person whose loved one was taken away by Hamas on October 7th. In January, her daughter and two other Israeli hostages were featured in a video released by Hamas.
“My life stopped on October 7th. All I’m doing now is fighting for her life,” Steinbrecher said.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis are calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to release the hostages.
Additionally, after the October 7 attack, approximately 400 residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza are living in the Shefaim Hotel, just north of Tel Aviv. A mobile home is also located next to the hotel to accommodate more families.
On October 7, approximately 52 residents of Kibbutz Kfar Azha were killed by a terrorist organization, including Keren Flash’s parents.
“They’re not coming back. There’s nothing I can do and there’s no one to help me bring them back,” she said. “So for me, I should be able to start healing, but that’s not possible, because I’m not alone in this.”
On Wednesday, kibbutz residents asked a representative of the Swiss Red Cross who visited the hotel why the aid group had not put more diplomatic pressure on Hamas.
Manuel Bessler, a Red Cross official, told CBN News that the organization was preoccupied with other matters.
“If the authorities, whether state or non-state actors, do not give access to the Red Cross, then yes, we cannot help. That is fundamental,” he said.
Earlier this week, an Israeli team returned from Cairo after negotiating with Hamas to release hostages in exchange for a ceasefire. However, the two sides have not yet reached an agreement.
Image credit: ©GettyImages/PeterPencil
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributor to Christian Headlines and host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sound doctrine and Biblical truth. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.
