The world feels a bit lighter following a ceasefire with Iran, yet families like mine remain anxious. My brother, along with 49 other hostages, is still trapped underground in Gaza, awaiting their return home.
For nearly two weeks, our family endured a dual nightmare as Iranian attacks intensified. At first, my wife was abroad when the missiles started falling. I was home alone with our three young kids, rushing into a bomb shelter while sirens blared outside. My wife couldn’t bear the thought of us facing this crisis alone, so she decided to come back to Israel, to the chaos.
This kind of fear is something we share.
Families of Israeli hostages urgently reach out to Trump as time runs short
I tried my best to comfort the kids and keep them close. Yet, my mind kept drifting back to my brother, Abinathan. I often wonder if, while we’re scared of the bombs, he is terrified by the reality of being held captive by terrorists in darkness.
This thought never leaves my mind.
So many Israeli families share this painful reality. We flee from the bombings, all the while knowing our loved ones are still trapped underground. As the world shifts its attention elsewhere, the plight of hostages tends to fade from view. Their suffering continues unnoticed. Their time is on pause, and we are still fighting to bring them home.
President Trump, you’ve shown strong leadership on the global stage. Your response to Iran signaled that America stands by its allies and prioritizes global security. Now, it’s crucial not to let this ceasefire slip away without seizing the opportunity. You’ve helped free hostages before and expressed a desire for a deal to bring them home. Now is the time to make that happen.
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It’s been 68 days since my brother, Abinathan, was taken hostage by Hamas. He endures unimaginable suffering—deprived of sunlight, clean water, and basic rights—used as a bargaining chip in a cruel game.
October 7, 2023, was supposed to be a joyful day, celebrating Simchat Torah. Instead, it marked the horrifying moment my brother was abducted from the Nova Music Festival, one of Hamas’ first targets. Friends started searching for him online, and then a video surfaced—Abinathan, handcuffed and forcibly taken into Gaza, separated from his girlfriend Noah Argamani. That’s a reality I never wanted to face. Since then, it’s been an agony. Noah was rescued in June, but Abinathan remains there.
For the first several months, we had no news about his well-being. It was a constant nightmare, waiting and not knowing. Then, in March, we received a sign of life. Just to know he was alive felt like a breath of fresh air after so long. But, really, just being alive isn’t enough. We need him home.
The stories from returned hostages reveal the terrifying conditions they faced—dark tunnels, extreme hunger, and deafening silence. Each day, they encounter systemic cruelty and torture.
Abinathan is my younger brother, 32 years old, and full of life. He works as an electrical engineer at Nvidia, is a loving uncle, and the heart of our large family. He never misses a birthday and travels far just to celebrate with us. A great cook, he enjoys preparing special meals to make others happy. Brilliant and hilarious, Abinathan brings joy to everyone around him. We share a bond that doesn’t require daily check-ins; we just understand each other. Even though we’ve built our own lives, we still gather at our mother’s house on Friday afternoons, where laughter fills the air as if time has stood still.
The last time I saw him was at my daughter’s third birthday. Now, she’s quickly approaching five. Recently, one of her brothers mentioned his fear of forgetting what Abinathan looks like or how he sounds. This is the childhood they’re being forced to endure. On top of that, they wake up to terrifying sirens, running to shelters while grappling with unsettling questions.
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We miss him every day—in moments of joy and sadness, and especially in our routines. His chair is empty at family dinners, a stark reminder of his absence during important milestones. What’s hardest to come to terms with is how much time has passed. Meanwhile, he remains buried in a Hamas tunnel, waiting for us to bring him home.
President Trump, you hold the power to change this story. The recent agreement with Iran marked a significant achievement. The United States stands with Israel. Now, it’s time to leverage this success into something even greater—a comprehensive deal to bring home all hostages and end this conflict.
A ceasefire with Iran should be the start of a comprehensive resolution. There are still 50 hostages held in Gaza. Some have been confirmed alive, while others have tragically lost their lives. Their lives matter. All of them must come home.
Thank you to the President and the American people for standing with us. We plead for your help in bringing this ordeal to a close now.
Abinathan is still alive. I’m still here waiting. Our fight doesn’t end until he and all the other hostages are home.
Moshe Or is the brother of hostage Abinathan Or, taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
