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A HEARTBROKEN grandson marking 250 days since his beloved grandad was taken hostage by cowardly Hamas terrorists has just one demand – bring him home.
Like many families desperately waiting for news on their loved ones, former Israeli footballer Daniel Lifshitz is pleading for more to be done to save his grandparent from the terror group’s clutches.
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She is struggling with her husband Oded, who has been in captivity for eight monthsSuppliedActivists for human rights, Yocheved and Oded Lifshitz worked hard to make Kibbutz Nir Or a haven for those fighting for peace.
But theirs and so many lives were torn apart on October 7.
The loving couple’s home was burned down – and they were dragged back to Gaza.
Hundreds of unforgiving Hamas terrorists stormed the border into Israel, leaving behind a trail of destruction and 250 days of torment.
More than 1,200 people – most of them innocent civilians – were brutally slaughtered.
A further 240 hostages were cruelly dragged back over the border – with 116 remaining in Gaza, including many who have tragically died.
Israeli authorities say 41 are believed to be dead – but officials privately fear the number could be much higher.
Disturbing figures such as those bring with them a world of anguish for the families of hostages not heard from for eight long, hellish months.
Daniel Lifshitz told The Sun not enough is being done to rescue those still captive – including his 84-year-old grandfather Oded.
The former Israeli journalist and his wife Yocheved, 85, spent years helping others, including transporting patients from Gaza to Israel for medical treatment.
In a twisted irony, they were hauled into an abyss of conflict when Hamas brutes swept into their home and kidnapped them – marking the final time Yocheved saw her husband.
Oded, who suffers from lung disease, was shot as he frantically tried to protect himself and his wife from being swept away by Hamas.
Their home was burnt to ashes as thugs took Oded away on a motorbike.
Yocheved meanwhile was ruthlessly flung on another motorbike before being taken into the depths of Hamas’ spider web network of underground tunnels.
She was forced to walk for five or six hours through the wet sprawling network of passages and was kept there for more than two weeks.
When Yocheved was finally released late in October, she was wheelchair-bound and frail.
Daniel said: “My grandmother was released because she lost 10kg in 17 days.
“For me, the release of my grandmother wasn’t a humanitarian release, it was for sanitarian reasons as they [Hamas] were afraid they were afraid they would die and spread disease inside the tunnels”.
'This this crime against humanity must stop'
By Katie Davis
THE cousin of a woman still being held in Hamas’ evil clutches has insisted the world must put an end to their suffering.
Occupational therapist Carmel Gat, who turned 40 in captivity on May 16, was visiting her parents in Kibbutz Be’eri when their home was ambushed by terrorists.
Her mother Kinneret was murdered, and as Carmel was abducted she tragically saw her body.
Gil Dickmann, Carmel’s devastated cousin, said they have not had an update on her for 200 days now.
He told The Sun: ” We only know about what happened during the first 50 days because two hostages who were held with her and were released said she was physically OK.
“They were all held in a very tiny room, they had a guard who was vicious towards them who was replaced after a few days.
“They told us how she was like a guardian angel to them, and practiced yoga and meditation with them.
“This filled us with hope because it means she’s still the great person she is.”
But 200 days of agony have followed, with no word on how Carmel is, or where she is.
Gil has vowed to do everything in his power to get her home – and has insisted the world needs to be doing more to save hostages.
He said: “I don’t think enough is being done to rescue her and the remaining hostages because she’s not here.
“I feel I am not doing enough, the Israeli government is not doing enough, Hamas of course is not doing enough, the whole world is not doing enough – you are not doing enough.
“We all must do much more to get her back and we can all help in this because what’s being done to the hostages right now is a crime against humanity.
“And this crime against humanity has been going on for eight months now. This is the obligation of the whole world to stop and get the hostages back.
“My family, our lives stopped on October 7. We lost my aunt, and Carmel and her sister-in-law Yarden were both held as hostages.”
“Our family is shattered – and so many families in Israel are shattered from this tragedy.
“We can’t go back to our lives until the hostages are back and this tragedy is over.”
While Daniel says his grandmother has recovered physically from her ordeal, he says she is mentally struggling.
They are grappling with 220 of silence – as the last update they had on Oded’s condition was from another hostage who was released.
Daniel says they are holding onto the hope of being reunited with Oded – but fear for him as he was shot as he was abducted and suffers from several health issues.
He added: “As a family, it is very difficult. My grandfather was the head of the family.
“Everyone is protesting against Israel, but if you really want to help the Gazans, you need to protest to release the hostages as that will end the suffering.”
Israel launched a retaliation against Hamas after October 7, turning Gaza into an all-out war zone as PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed he would not stop until the terror group is eliminated.
Assaults via the ground, sea and air have left more than 37,000 Palestinians dead, according to authorities in Gaza.
For months, negotiators from the US, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a ceasefire in the enclave of 2.3 million people.
The UN Security Council on Monday voted in favour of a US resolution supporting the proposal outlined by President Joe Biden.
'We want more happy endings'
by Katie Davis
BRAVE Yarden Roman-Gat handed her three-year-old daughter to her husband as they tried to flee Hamas terrorists
The 36-year-old was visiting her husband Alon’s family in Kibbutz Be’eri when terrorists stormed in – killing Alon’s mother and capturing his sister, Carmel.
Yarden, Alon and Gefen were seized and taken away in a jeep.
As it closed on the border, they decided to take a chance and jump from the vehicles as it slowed down after spotting an Israeli tank near the border.
With little Gefen in Yarden’s arms, the family started running – but Yarden quickly decided to hand the youngster over to her husband as armed guards opened fire on fire.
Yarden stayed behind as Alon found a ditch for him and Gefen to hide in, which they stayed in for eight hours covered in dirt as the sound of trucks searching for them blared out.
The mum tried to play dead but was captured by Hamas.
Yarden was then hauled to a small apartment, where she was put under 24 hour surveillance by armed guards.
Thankfully, she was physically unharmed, but Maya said Yarden struggled with being “devoid of humanity” for so long.
She also had no idea of the fate of her husband and young daughter.
After almost two months, Yarden was released as part of a temporary ceasefire and had an emotional reunion with her relieved family.
Maya and her family are among those continuing to campaign around the clock for the release of the rest of the hostages – including Yarden’s sister-in-law Carmel.
Maya said: “It was the happiest day in all of our lives despite all the horror that came before it.
“Gefen ran up to me yelling ‘you have to come, we’ve found mum’ and that image will never leave my mind – it was the most amazing thing.
“All the families deserve to have that feeling and that’s why we are so involved still with all the issues still going on for all the rest of the families because we really want people to remember that they can still have a good ending to his.”
Maya has called for more to be done to rescue the remaining hostages.
She added: “Our family and most of the hostage families have always been for any kind of deal because we realise that is the only way to get as many hostages back as possible.
“We believe that is what our government should be pushing for.
“It’s important for people to realise that the only way a deal will be made is if both sides agree to it and we are fighting to make sure our government agrees to a deal.
“Our country cannot afford to give up on its citizens.”
ReutersAnd Hamas this week submitted a response to a US ceasefire plan which it said “opened a pathway” to reach an agreement.
In November, a deal saw Hamas release 105 hostages in return for a week-long ceasefire and some 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
A further four were released by the terror group prior to that, including Daniel’s grandmother.
Earlier this month, four hostages were rescued in a daring mission by Israeli forces.
Among them was university student Noa Argamani, 26, whose horror abduction on the back of a motorbike sent shockwaves around the world.
It followed the rescue of two other hostages in February during a raid by a police SWAT team at a house in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
But while this has brought joy to many families, the heartache for those still waiting for their loved ones is a living nightmare.
Daniel – who has actively campaigned at rallies demanding a ceasefire deal – is among hundreds frustrated by repeatedly stalling talks of releases and a temporary ceasefire.
He added: “Negotiations need to be stronger, they need to do everything necessary to make this negotiation and a deal to release everyone.
“I think we can’t always think about everyone, everyone, everyone, we have to even pass small deals if it’s necessary to build trust between the sides.
“We need much more pressure from the world to show what Hamas did and to show what happened on October 7 more to make Hamas look bad.
“But we have to do everything to push Hamas to release the hostages because the release will make a much calmer Middle East and end the suffering of the Gazans.”
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ReutersTIMELINE OF WAR SO FAR
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas gunmen launch horror attack killing thousands of innocent civilians and taking hostages
Oct 7, 2023: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is at war and prepares revenge airstrikes on Gaza
Oct 19, 2023: Yemen’s Houthi terror groups start attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel including US and UK vessels
Oct 21, 2023: Aid trucks are sent through the Rafah border into Gaza
Oct 27, 2023: Israel launches ground offensive in Gaza
Nov 1, 2023: People try to evacuate Gaza completely as war ramps up but many forced to stay
Nov 15, 2023: Israeli troops enter Gaza’s biggest hospital, Al Shifa, after a siege of several days as they believe Hamas are working inside
Nov 21, 2023: Israel and Hamas announce a ceasefire to last seven days and see the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners
Nov 2023: Truce ends with only half of hostages returned
Dec 1, 2023: Fighting starts up again with first round of airstrikes in weeks
Dec 4, 2023: Israeli forces launch huge ground assault in southern Gaza, towards the main southern city of Khan Younis
Dec 12, 2023: Countries call on Israel to find a new ceasefire deal to stop civilian casualties
Jan 11, 2024: US and British warplanes, ships and submarines launch retaliatory strikes across Yemen
Feb 29, 2024: More than 100 Gazans die as they queued for humanitarian aid with Israel and Hamas having different views on what happened
April 1, 2024: Israeli air strikes kill seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen charity
April 1, 2024: Iran’s embassy hit in Damascus by a suspected Israeli airstrike killing several military officers and a top general
April 13, 2024: Tehran responds to the embassy strike by firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel but most are intercepted
April 19, 2024: Israel hits back at Iran with precision strike near a nuclear site in Isfahan
April 23, 2024: Israel gear up for six-week assault on Rafah
April 24, 2024: Hostage claims 70 people held captive have died after being bombed
April 29, 2024: Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu could be issued with an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza
May 4, 2024: Hamas claim ceasefire deal has been agreed before Israel labels the move a “ruse” and shuts down any negotiations
May 10, 2024: Hundreds of thousands of Rafah civilians told to flee city as Israel prepares planned assault to eliminate all of Hamas
May 17, 2024: Several bodies of slaughtered Israeli civilians are discovered in Gaza and returned home to their loved ones
May 19, 2024: Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar face arrests on war crime charges
May 22, 2024: Parents of Israeli hostages release video of Hamas thugs threatening to rape female soldiers they’ve captured and left bloodied
June 8, 2024: Four hostages including Noa Argamani rescued by IDF
June 10, 2024: UN Security Council votes in favour of US resolution supporting the proposal outlined by Biden
English (US)