Latest news with #Itay
Euractiv
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
The Gaza hostages Germany would rather forget
BERLIN – Few issues this summer have gripped Germany as much as Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Nearly two years into the conflict, Germany continues to wrestle with how to respond to Hamas's 7 October massacre and Israel's devastating military campaign, always through the prism of its historical responsibility for the Holocaust. Often lost in the public discourse, however, is that seven German citizens remain in Hamas captivity, making Germany the only European nation with nationals still held hostage after 7 October. Germany's collective failure to recognise the hostages as their own has not been lost on the hostages' families, who accuse the country of paying little more than lip service to their captive citizens' plight. 'We got a lot of empathy, but when it comes to action, Germany doesn't have a seat at the table,' said Ruby Chen, the father of Itay Chen, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, whose tank division defended a kibbutz from Hamas' assault on 7 October. Itay, who holds German, Israeli, and US citizenship, is among roughly 50 people still missing since that day. In March 2024, Israel declared him dead, but his parents – Ruby and Hagit – have received no evidence of his death, and continue travelling the globe to lobby governments to press for his release, unimpressed by both Israel's and Germany's efforts. If Ruby were to meet Merz, he would tell him to "be more active in negotiations, to end the war, and get the hostages out," he said. 'Not important enough' Negotiations on hostages with Hamas typically run through intermediaries such as Egypt and Qatar. Releases are mostly selected based on humanitarian criteria, which has also led to the release of 14 German citizens so far. But other governments have gone further: the US, for example, leveraged private-sector intermediaries to open direct channels to Hamas, leading to the release of one American national. France has reportedly managed to put French citizens on priority release lists through proactive influence operations. By contrast, Germany hasn't talked to Hamas or pressured the negotiators, the Chens say. German officials told them that they 'do not have the resources to effectively negotiate' for their nationals. But the family disagrees: 'We believe they have an obligation to do whatever is in their power to free German hostages," Ruby said. 'The German hostages haven't been forgotten, but they're seen as not important enough,' Hagit added. All but implicit in the Chens' concerns is the question whether the German government would handle things differently if the missing were not Jewish dual citizens named Itay, Tamir, Alon, Shav, Gali, Ziv, and Rom, but ethnic Germans, born and raised in the country. Many Israelis are also German nationals thanks to a loosening of German citizenship laws in recent years as part of the country's reckoning with the Holocaust. Itay's German citizenship came from Hagit, whose own mother was a Holocaust survivor from Bad Reichenhall, a Bavarian spa town. In 2011, an estimated 100,000 Israelis had German passports – a figure likely to have grown since a 2021 law eased access for descendants of Nazi victims. Yet awareness in Germany of the remaining hostages is minimal. 'It's a disgrace that this plays hardly any role in German politics," Uwe Becker, the antisemitism watchdog of the regional government of Hesse, said earlier this year. Berlin long avoided even acknowledging the number of its citizens in captivity, citing security concerns. The current conservative government also dropped its predecessor's policy of treating all hostages equally regardless of nationality, but has done little more than add boilerplate references to communications. Similar accusations have been levelled at the UK government, which insists that "safe release of all hostages, including British nationals and those with strong UK links, has been a priority for this government since the start." French President Emmanuel Macron, by contrast, held a public ceremony at the Dôme des Invalides, with soldiers holding up images of 42 French victims of 7 October. His government celebrated French hostage releases with jubilant statements. At odds with Berlin The Chens have tried to raise awareness with op-eds, interviews and meetings with German government representatives, including former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul. They say, they are particularly grateful to the German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, a former TV host and spokesperson to Angela Merkel, who helped them set up meetings. But their demands sit awkwardly with Berlin's position. They notably call for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that Israel's military operations has failed to secure the hostages' release. 'Both sides are to blame, and we don't care who is more to blame right now,' Ruby said. It was time for the international community "to get both sides to the table," he added, even if that would amount to rewarding Hamas for its crimes. During a recent trip to Berlin, the Chens also discussed potential sanctions against Hamas's financing operations with the German finance and interior ministries. They believe that Germany should lead the EU in joining US sanctions, and also pressure countries like Turkey, a NATO ally, which they accuse of serving as Hamas' financial hub. The Chens were accordingly stunned by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's unprecedented decision to limit arms exports to Israel – but not because they believe that Israel's approach is the right one, as they hasten to add. "We're wondering how this measure will contribute to the release of Itay and the other six German hostages," Ruby wrote in an op-ed for Bild, a German tabloid. No pressure was put on Hamas, he added. The urgency is mounting as Israeli forces advance into areas where the hostages are believed to be held. Recently released footage also showed the precarious health of emaciated captives in Gaza's tunnels – scenes that left Hagit in tears. 'We're worried that the hostages still alive will die and that those already dead will vanish without anyone telling us what happened to Itay,' Ruby said. 'We must have certainty,' Hagit added. (mm)
Euronews
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
UN Security Council meets to discuss Israel-Hamas war, hostages
Israel called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to demand the release of its hostages held under Hamas captivity in Gaza. It comes after the Gaza-based group released a video showing a 24-year-old man appearing emaciated. The Israeli hostages garnered widespread sympathy but the plight of the more than two million Palestinians starving in the enclave drew even more support. Most of the Security Council members blamed Israel for manufacturing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as they pointed to the government and the military's two month blockade of the Strip and failure to allow enough food and medicine to enter the war-wracked territory. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says at least 188 Palestinians, including 94 children, have died from malnutrition-related causes so far. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who flew to New York to attend the session, accused Russia, other members of the council and the international media of perpetuating 'so many lies' and spreading anti-Israel disinformation. He said members of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are not feeding the hostages while they 'enjoy meat, fish and vegetables'. Saar asserted that his country is allowing 'huge amounts of aid' to enter the besieged territory, and accused Hamas of looting. The top Israeli diplomat said the group is stealing food, medical supplies and other basic needs and using it as a 'financial tool' to sell and make money. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has previously refuted those claims, saying there is no evidence pointing to this. Saar also accused the Palestinians of 'inventing terrorism' and Hamas of wanting to continue this war instead of reaching a ceasefire deal with Israel. 'The world has been turned upside down while Hamas runs its propaganda machine,' he said. 'A world in which Israel is put on a bench of the accused while it fights for its survival. There is a name for it. It's called antisemitism.' Testimony from the hostages' relatives Itay David, brother of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was captured in Hamas' released video looking thin and weak in a Gaza tunnel saying he was 'digging his own grave', urged the Security Council to take action and protect their lives. 'Do not let them die. We don't have time. Do not let them spend another minute in darkness.' Calling his brother 'a living skeleton,' Itay urged the 15 council members in a video briefing to get humanitarian aid to the hostages, saying they are being broken psychologically and physically by Hamas and denied 'the most basic necessities of life.' Israel criticised for human suffering in Gaza Many members, including the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone, praised Itay for advocating for his brother and condemned Hamas taking hostages as a war crime, but also accused Israel of committing its own. Sierra Leone's UN Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu said that while hostage taken is an international crime that needs to be prosecuted, 'one atrocity cannot justify another'. 'While we express deep concern for the hostages, we cannot ignore the wider humanitarian catastrophe that has engulfed Gaza,' he said. 'The people of Gaza have been subjected to a blockade and siege that deprived them of food, water, fuel and medical supplies,' which could also constitute a war crime. The UK's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward reiterated London's support for the immediate release of hostages, but also slammed Israel for restricting aid and forcing the densely populated enclave to like under famine-like conditions. 'Since the ceasefire ended, the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian civilians has plumbed to new and shocking depths,' she said. 'Israel's aid restrictions have led to famine now unfolding in Gaza,' as reported by international experts who monitor famine globally.' Woodward said she spoke to doctors last week who had served in Gaza. 'They had seen children so malnourished that their wounds festered for months without healing,' she said, and saw baby formula confiscated by the Israeli military. 'I call on Israel now to act to alleviate the horrendous suffering,' she said. Approximately 250 hostages were taken after Hamas staged an attack on southern Israel on 7 October, 2023, killing 1,200 people. Most have been released in various hostage exchange deals, but 50 of them remain in Gaza with around 20 believed to still be alive. Hamas' attack was followed by an all-out Israeli military offensive on the Strip, now in its 22nd month. Israeli attacks have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The UN says more than two-thirds of deaths it has been able to independently verify were women and children.
Fox News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
This July 4th, a family waits: American hostage's father pleads for son's freedom from Hamas terrorists
The first time I remember celebrating the Fourth of July was during the American bicentennial in 1976. As children living in New York City, my parents woke my sisters and I up early to see the Parade of Tall Ships as it entered the Hudson River. Even as a kid, this magnificent display conveyed to me a sense of the grand power of the U.S. The extraordinary event also offered me another feeling: that America, my home country, would do anything and everything in its power to keep me, my family, and indeed, all of its citizens, safe. This Fourth of July, Americans will find themselves in two very different realities. Most will be surrounded by family and friends, enjoying baseball, hot dogs and ice cream cones. But for my American family, as well as dozens of other families of hostages, this day will be a stark contrast. On this day that celebrates freedom, my son Itay will spend the Fourth of July like he has the last 637 days – likely alone, in the cold, dark tunnels of Hamas in Gaza. He and 49 other hostages remain stripped of their freedom, while their families are in limbo, not able to embrace the holiday of independence. We need to remember, especially on this day, that Hamas is still holding Americans hostage, and 50 hostages in total. On this day, we must look past the haze of fireworks and remember that the Fourth of July is about something more. It's about celebrating our hard-fought, long-defended freedom and knowing that an attack on the freedom of any American – and taking them hostage – is an attack on the freedom of us all. Taking U.S. citizens as hostages should be a liability, not an asset, with severe consequences attached. So long as Hamas holds U.S. citizens, we are letting evil and terrorism win. My son was 19 when he was taken hostage. On this Independence Day, he can no longer watch the Mets games with his brothers, something he loved and cherished. He can no longer try to strike me out in the neighborhood pickup game, or check in every five minutes at the grill asking when the food will be ready. On this Independence Day, his lack of freedom rings loudly. This Fourth of July, my family and I will wake up again to the same nightmare we do every day, where every moment begs the same agonizing question: Where is my son, and what can we do to get him back? Right now, all of our energy is focused on one thing. As every parent knows, when your child disappears from your sight – even for a few moments at a playground or store – panic sets in instantly. But when your child is kidnapped, especially by terrorists, the only thing you can think about is getting them back, whatever their condition. Until we can embrace Itay again, we cannot even begin to process what lies ahead or plan for the future. It's impossible to move forward when this remains an open wound. After the historic wins over Iran, Hezbollah, and yes, Hamas, now is the time for us to pause and adopt President Donald Trump's policy of "Peace Through Strength." It is time for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to collaborate with the U.S. and bring the hostages back. The U.S. was successful last month in bringing New Jersey native Edan Alexander back home, independent of Israel, but it needs Israel to bring the remaining others out. No fan of half-measures, President Trump is in a prime position to pull off the "Big Beautiful Deal," a comprehensive diplomatic initiative which would end hostilities in both Iran and Gaza, secure the release of all 50 remaining hostages in Gaza – including my son – and help stabilize the entire Middle East through a carefully negotiated framework. President Trump is uniquely positioned to drive such an initiative forward. During his previous presidency, he successfully brokered the Abraham Accords, achieving what many had previously considered near impossible normalization between Israel and several Arab nations. The Big Beautiful Deal would be a direct extension of this diplomatic milestone, offering a more comprehensive and regional approach to peacemaking. The president's unorthodox style has demonstrated that breakthroughs are possible even in the most entrenched conflicts. America defined the values of freedom and human dignity that we celebrate on the Fourth of July. They didn't come easily – we had to fight for them, good versus evil – and our continued defense of democracy is an essential part of the American identity. In the last few months, my family has met Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and others who promise us that President Trump's policy of "America First" is not hollow words and "America First" prioritizes the release of American hostages and those unlawfully detained all around the world, including Gaza. To date, the Trump administration has been able to release 47 such Americans, and we pray Itay will be one of them as well soon. This Fourth of July, keep in mind that there was an attack on our freedom on Oct. 7, and fellow Americans remain in captivity. I call on President Trump: Do everything in your power to quash terrorism, and ensure that freedom wins the day with the release of the hostages.
Express Tribune
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Ruvina, Muneeb in final round of cross-country 100m
Pakistan's snowshoeing athlete Ali Raza (R) participates in the Unified Sports Experience Relay Race at the 12th Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin on Monday. PHOTO: SOP On the second day of the 12th Special Olympics World Winter Games, being held in Turin, Itay, Pakistan's Ruvina Qurban and Muneeb ur Rehman participated in the divisional round of the cross-country 100-meter race and qualified for the final round, which will be held on March 15. Tomorrow, they will compete in the 50-meter divisional race. Meanwhile, Pakistan's snowshoeing athlete Ali Raza participated in the Unified Sports Experience Relay Race, where he was paired with other unified and special athletes and secured second place. Pakistan's snowshoeing team will compete in the 200-meter and 800-meter divisional rounds tomorrow. Additionally, athletes from Chinese Taipei sang Pakistan's national song Dil Dil Pakistan while heading to the venue with the Pakistani athletes. Pakistani special athletes participated in intensive training sessions on Sunday in preparation for the 12th Special Olympics World Winter Games. Earlier on Monday, national athletes Afaaq Khan, Moazzam Iqbal, Shah Guloon, Iqra, Tabassum, Ali Raza, and Manahil, who are participating in the Snowshoeing competitions, had their training session scheduled for BBC correspondent Joe Wilson, who is present at the Pregelato venue, met with the Pakistani athletes. He extended his best wishes for the event and said, "I welcome the Pakistan team to the 2025 World Winter Games. I have traveled to Pakistan several times for cricket coverage, but I am delighted to see the Green Shirts competing in the World Winter Games." Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 is hosting 1,500 athletes from 100 countries, along with 1,000 coaches, 2,000 volunteers, around 100 youth leaders, 500 representatives from media organizations, and over 1,300 guests. At the Opening Ceremony the 2025 Special Olympics World Games President Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo said, "Organizing this event presents an extraordinary opportunity for Turin, and indeed for all of Italy, to respect diversity, overcome challenges, and foster a positive social attitude. It highlights the determination, hard work, and talent of intellectually diverse athletes and promotes a culture of sharing and living together. The Special Olympics greatly contribute to building an inclusive society, recognizing and supporting intellectually diverse youth and citizens through sports, thereby creating a brighter future." Held under the Special Olympics athlete oath, "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt," the Games are attended by officials including Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth of Mongolia Nomin Chinbat and Director of Foreign Relations, Information, and Technology Department at the Physical Culture and Sports Authority of Mongolia Oyunbat Nasanbat.
