By now, Moshe Lavi has recounted the nightmare so many times — in his head and to others — that he braces himself each time he shares it, numb and exhausted by a story that never changes: On October 7, Hamas hijacked a relative’s social media accounts and used them to live stream videos of some of Lavi’s family, and other members of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, huddled near what appeared to be the dead body of a teenager.

His brother-in-law, Omri Miran, was abducted from the kibbutz and has yet to be found. Lavi’s sister, Lishay, and his two young nieces were rescued by the Israeli military that evening.

Nearly three weeks after Hamas’ brazen incursion into Israel, most of the more than 220 people believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas and other Palestinian groups remain missing, with little known about their status. As the war rages, many family members of those taken hostage fear that the plight of their loved ones is being overshadowed by the fighting.

Alana Zeitchik, who had six family members kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, said, “They are not humanised.”

This week in New York City, Zeitchik rallied along with other relatives of those who were abducted in Gaza, urging for action to secure the safe return of the hostages. Zeitchik remains haunted by the voice memos she received from her cousins, one of whom said, “I don’t think we’re going to make it,” before an agonizing silence. Later, looking at videos shared on social media, Zeitchik recognised the face of a young niece in the back of a truck driven through Gaza by Hamas militants.

Zeitchik’s cousin, Sharon Cunio, and her husband, David, are believed to have been abducted with their 3-year-old twin daughters, Emma and Julie. Her cousin Danielle Alony, who was visiting the kibbutz on October 7 with her 5-year-old daughter, Amelia, is missing with her child as well.

“The pain is immeasurable,” Zeitchik said.

Only one hostage who has been released, ​​Yocheved Lifshitz, has shared some of her experience publicly, and it’s impossible to discern how the other hostages have been treated. Families have mobilised to share their stories over social media and with news organizations, knowing that public pressure and awareness could help bring their loved ones home safely.

New York Times News Service