06-08-2025
'We have a Holocaust before our eyes': Hostage families in panic after Hamas, PIJ videos
Many drew comparisons between the plight of the hostages and the Holocaust and called on the government to avoid putting the captive Israelis in further danger.
Several relatives of hostages expressed panic on Wednesday over the condition of their family members held in Gaza, following the release of videos of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski.
The grandfather of Matan Angrest relives the abduction of his grandson every day due to dementia, Angrest's father Hagai said on Wednesday.
"My wife's father, a Holocaust survivor, saw the latest videos," Hagai said, according to Army Radio, referring to the latest videos released by the Gaza terrorist groups of the hostages.
"He has dementia. He experiences Matan's abduction anew every day."
Drawing comparisons to the Holocaust: Families of hostages express concerns
Hagai was not the only relative of a hostage to speak out on Wednesday. Several others drew comparisons between the plight of the hostages and the Holocaust and called on the government to avoid putting the captive Israelis in further danger.
"We have a Holocaust before our eyes," said Kobi Kalfon, father of hostage Segev Kalfon, KAN reported.
"It is the moral duty of the prime minister to heal the entire country and make the right decision."
"It's terrible to think that Hamas needs to wake us up with a kick to the face so we know what's happening there, when it's already known to everyone in the government," said Ronen, brother of hostage Alon Ohel, according to KAN, comparing the videos of David and Braslavski to the images of the Holocaust.
Danny, the father of hostage Omri Miran, told KAN that seeing the videos made him think of his own son's condition.
"It crossed my mind that my son probably looks like that too," he said, referring to Braslavski and David's emaciated conditions. "And not just my son, but all 20 of the living hostages. This time, they showed those two, and it's possible they're the healthier ones."
Miran further expressed concern for what would happen if fighting resumed in central Gaza.
"If fighting resumes in central Gaza, it will be a death sentence for my son, if he's not already dead," he told KAN. "They are going to kill him, and his blood will be on their hands."
