Frustration and heartbreak underscored the pleas of families whose loved ones have been held by Hamas for more than 100 days, pleading on Capitol Hill Wednesday for their release.
Families lost their last moments with their loved ones on October 7, when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, massacring people at music festivals and homes, and taking an estimated 240 people hostage. They shared heartbreaking stories.
Yaden Gonin recounted his last conversation with his 23-year-old sister Romi, who was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival.
“Mom, we were ambushed and they're shooting at us. Ben is probably dead, Gaia was shot but didn't react, and Ophir was seriously injured. He was shot in the arm. Who? If he doesn't come soon, I'll die,” Gonin said.
“A phone call that ended with my sister, my beautiful, wonderful, kind, caring, loving sister being kidnapped to Gaza by brutal terrorists after watching her best friend get killed right in front of her eyes. 103 days. No sunlight. No fresh water. No food. No air.”
More than 130 people are still being held hostage by Hamas, but their exact circumstances are unclear.
But testimonies from hostages released in a short-term deal in late November provided insight into the dire situation. This includes people held in mazes of underground tunnels, hospitals and Palestinian homes with little access to food, water and fresh air. Stories of torture and sexual violence.
Ashley Waxman Bakshi spoke on behalf of her 19-year-old cousin, Agam Berger, who said she was kidnapped while wearing her pajamas.
“What's really scary for us is being part of a family of young girls like this, and we know that there is sexual abuse… We know that sexual abuse exists even in confinement. We know, and pregnancy after 3 months can be a problem. Every day passes, abortions can only be done up to a certain date. This is what we are really afraid of. [about]. “Everyone needs to go home, but especially young women, teenage women, they can't go home,” she said.
The families were joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and other senior senators, who pledged to continue their efforts to make the release of the hostages a top priority. Mr. Schumer said he had discussed “new strategies that could be implemented” with his family, which he promised to implement but did not provide details.
“Don't give up hope. There are always new initiatives like this one,” Schumer said.
“Slow, slow, slow, but important progress is being made, but that doesn’t mean that progress can’t happen quickly enough.”
There is little public insight into a potential agreement between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of the hostages.
Under a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in late November, Hamas released about 100 hostages in exchange for the release of 180 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons and increased humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip.
The agreement collapsed after Israel accused Hamas of blocking the release of women and children, leaving around 130 people in Gaza, including children, women, men, the elderly, injured and bodies of the dead. They remained in captivity and little information was available about them. safety and health.
Israel and the United States rely heavily on Qatar as a mediator with Hamas, whose political leaders live in Doha, but an agreement to free the hostages has yet to be revived.
Two bipartisan senators last month called on President Biden to make clear to the Qataris that their relationship with the United States is at risk if they do not increase pressure on Hamas.
But some families have criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a major obstacle to reaching an agreement to release the hostages, and are calling for the United States to put more pressure on Israeli leaders.
“This holdup is not with the United States or America. [Qataris]'' said Liz Naftali, aunt of 4-year-old Abigail, who was released after 50 days in captivity.
“This holdup is due to the Netanyahu government,” she said, adding that the Israeli prime minister is “reluctant to agree to terms to release our loved ones in order to finalize these deals.” '' he accused.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, did not cite pressure on the Israeli government as an important factor, but said that lawmakers have “taken some measures against our own government. “We will make a strong proposal.” To Israelis and leaders of third countries. ”
Mr. Biden has stood by as one of Israel's most ardent supporters in the war against Hamas, but his administration has criticized the high Palestinian death toll (estimated at 24,000, including thousands of Hamas fighters) and the lack of humanitarian aid. has expressed concern about the delays. Delivery to Gaza.
Axios reported last week that Biden had been an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before October 7, but that he was dissatisfied with the Israeli leader and that his patience was running thin over the course of the war. Reported.
However, not all hostage families are focused on Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Waxman Bakshi said: Securing the release of the hostages (an option demanded by Hamas on the condition that Israel ceases military action and releases all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons) and the difficulty of feeling like there is a choice between Israel and the need to secure Hamas. It is not possible to launch a new attack like the one on October 7th.
“I'm not a politician or a military strategist, but I would like to see a solution that does both at the same time,” she said. “I'm not saying anything political. Whether I'm for it or against it, it has nothing to do with Prime Minister Netanyahu personally. Whatever solution comes out, it's important that the hostages be released and that Israel I think we need to consider both safety and security.”
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