Since January 19, we have experienced a deep sense of relief and joy, and continued concern, as 18 hostages, including five Thai nationals, have been welcomed home to Israel after 475+ days in captivity.
Many of us have been obsessively following each release, watching family reunions and celebrations that have been far too long coming. For me, and several others in our community, the plight of American-Israeli Keith Siegel felt personal due to connections to Keith and his family. The look on his wife Aviva’s face as she saw him turned over to the Red Cross was one of pure joy. Aviva herself was a hostage, released in November of 2023. Since then, she has labored tirelessly on behalf of Keith and the other hostages. This Shabbat, the world witnessed her smile for the first time since October 7 as Keith was returned to her and their four children.
There have been many images of Israeli resilience and heroism during these last few weeks as hostages have come home and told their stories.
One of those is 28-year-old hostage Emily Damari, who asked captors to release her friend’s father—Keith Siegel—in her stead.
Just 19 years old, Liri Albag had to be tricked into leaving fellow soldier Agam Berger because she insisted on staying behind with Agam. Liri’s strength as a leader shone as she and her fellow captives displayed confidence and strength as they were paraded across the stage surrounded by Hamas gunman. And during early days of captivity, she came to the aid of a fellow hostage, most likely saving her life.
And 80-year-old Gadi Mozes, who was isolated from other hostages, paced 7 kilometers a day in his small room and stood strong and tall upon his release. He stated on the day of his return that he was committed to rebuilding his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz.
While we celebrate the return of former hostages to their homes, we are sobered by the very high price for their release. The world remains silent as a significant number of terrorists are released in exchange for each civilian hostage—hostages who were dragged from their beds for the “crime” of being Israeli.
While we cheer for the reunion of these former hostages with their families, we are aware that their release is not the end of their trauma. They will require much support as they attempt to recover from severe physical and emotional abuse they experienced at the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad during their captivity.
And, even as we rejoice, we continue to worry about and fight for the return of all the hostages – the 20 still expected to be returned in the first phase of this deal, and an additional 65 to be released in a yet to be negotiated Phase 2. Still being held – and their fate unknown – are Shiri Bibas and her two small children, Ariel (age 5) and Kfir (age 2). The global Jewish family holds out hope that they are alive and will return.
This Shabbat, we read the Torah portion B’Shallach. In this portion, the Israelites escape from Pharoah through the miracle of the parting of the sea, and Miriam leads the women in songs of praise for their new-found freedom. My hope is that the families of all the hostages and the people of Israel will soon feel free to celebrate with abandon – and not with reservation – and begin the real healing.
L’Shalom,
Eileen Freed, CEO
Hostages released since January 19
Doron Steinbrecher, 31
Romi Gonen, 23
Emily Damari, 27
Liri Albag, 19
Karina Ariev, 20
Daniella Gilboa, 20
Naama Levy, 20
Agam Berger, 20
Arbel Yehud, 29
Gadi Moshe Moses, 80
Sathian Suwannakham, 35
Pongsak Thenna, 36
Bannawat Seathao, 27
Wathchara Sriaoun, 33
Surasak Lamnau, 32
Keith Siegel, 65
Ofer Kalderon, 54
Yarden Bibas, 35
Hostages expected to be released during the rest of Phase 1
Ariel Bibas, 5
Kfir Bibas, 2
Shiri Silberman Bibas, 33
Ohad Ben-Ami, 58
Eli Sharabi, 52
Itzik Elgarat, 70
Shlomo Mansour, 86
Ohad Yahalomi, 50
Oded Lifshitz, 84
Tsahi Idan, 50
Hisham al-Sayed, 36
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36
Yair Horn, 46
Omer Wenkert, 23
Sasha Trufanov, 28
Eliya Cohen, 27
Or Levy, 34
Avera Mengistu, 38
Tal Shoham, 39
Omer Shem-Tov, 22
All hostages still in captivity – https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/about-them
You can help advocate for the hostages and provide care upon their return with a donation to:
Hostages and Missing Families Forum
For daily updates on the situation in Israel and the Middle East, listen to “The Daily Briefing” podcast from The Times of Israel.
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