Families in Israel are experiencing unimaginable heartbreak as stories of children taken captive by Hamas emerge, with some of the youngest victims as young as 9 months old. In the aftermath of the recent conflict and Hamas’ threat to execute hostages in response to Israeli airstrikes, relatives are desperately seeking answers and pleading with the abductors to spare these innocent lives.
One heartbreaking account involves kindergarten teacher Shiri Silberman-Bibas and her two sons, Ariel (3 years old) and Kfir (9 months old). A chilling video shared on social media shows the family’s abduction by Hamas while they were in their safe room. The boys were taken without essential supplies, leaving loved ones hoping they have not been separated from their mother.
Five-year-old Raz and 3-year-old Aviv Asher, along with their mother, Doron Asher Katz, and their grandmother, were believed to be taken hostage when Hamas closed in on them in a village in southern Israel. Asher received a panicked phone call from his wife, informing him of the presence of terrorists in the house. Heart-wrenching video footage shows the family being bundled into a pickup truck.
Mayyan Zin, a divorced mother of two, discovered that her daughters, Dafna (15) and Ella (8), had been abducted by Hamas when she received photos of them in captivity. Later, videos showed the girls and their father being taken to Gaza from their home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Zin’s plea for their safe return echoes the anguish of many families.
A tragic incident occurred in the family of Israeli lawyer Shaked Haran, where 11 members, including three children aged 3 to 12, have been missing since Hamas stormed their home at Kibbutz Be’eri. The family received a mysterious phone call in Arabic-accented Hebrew mentioning the words “kidnapped” and “Gaza.” The missing family members include nieces Yahel Neri Shoham, Naveh Shoham, and Noam Avigdori, who also have German citizenship.
Siblings Sahar and Erez Kalderon and their cousin Noya Dan were violently taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with their father, uncle, and grandmother. A heart-wrenching video shows 12-year-old Erez being handled by Hamas gunmen, as the family’s older daughter, Gaya Kalderon, watches in despair. She reflects on her last communication with her family members and pleads for their safe return.
Finally, there is the account of a desperate mother whose 12- and 16-year-old sons were abducted by Hamas while they were on the phone with her. The boys were in a safe room, but as they reported gunshots outside the house, the mother was unable to prevent their kidnapping. She lives in anguish, hoping that her sons are safe and together with their father and his girlfriend, who were also taken.
The stories of these innocent children and their families serve as a poignant reminder of the human tragedy resulting from the ongoing conflict. The psychological scars and emotional trauma inflicted upon these young lives and their loved ones are immeasurable, adding to the profound tragedy of the situation.
