Families of Israelis abducted by Hamas gathered outside the headquarters of the American Red Cross in Washington, DC, on Sunday, pleading with the international community to maintain pressure on the terrorist organization and secure the release of their loved ones. Despite adverse weather conditions, these relatives assemble every Sunday, holding photos and invoking the names of the captured family members, chanting, “Bring them home now.”
As the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holds, the militants recently released 17 more hostages, bringing a glimmer of hope to families in DC who anticipated an extension of the truce, anticipating the return of their missing loved ones.
Drawing parallels between the recent Hamas attack in Israel and the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba, some relatives emphasized the unjustifiability of all acts of terrorism, stressing the need for global unity against such atrocities.
Boaz Atzili, speaking on behalf of his missing cousin Aviv Atzilli and his wife Liat Atzilli, shared the challenges faced by desperate families. Boaz disclosed that Aviv’s phone was geolocated to Gaza, and despite Red Cross efforts, Hamas was impeding access to the hostages. “This is not about Israel or Palestine. This is a humanitarian issue,” Boaz emphasized, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of the hostages.
Sapir Yarden, a young American of Israeli heritage, stood alongside Boaz, holding a picture of baby Kfir, just ten months old, who was taken hostage with his parents and sibling. Yarden drew parallels between Kfir’s situation and the case of “Baby Moshe” during the 26/11 attacks, underlining the impact on civilian populations.
Hamas abducted about 240 people and killed 1,400 during the October attack, including soldiers, civilians, and 33 children. Yael Meroz, another Israeli-American, urged Red Cross intervention and called on world leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, to pressure Hamas for the immediate release of the hostages.
The emotional Sunday gathering concluded with relatives standing united, ringing bells, and offering prayers for the safe return of their missing loved ones.
