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Families of Kidnapped Loved Ones Urge Their Safe Return

Heartbreaking Pleas
In a moving gathering at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the Israeli mission at the U.N. bore witness to the agonizing accounts of families of those who have gone missing, believed to be abducted by Hamas during the recent attacks on Israel. Their collective cry is heartrending: "We want them back. It's all we want."

Israel's Darkest Hour
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, opened the meeting, recounting the harrowing events. He stated, "We experienced our darkest moment since the Holocaust. Men, women, children, the elderly, not even newborn babies were spared. Entire communities have been erased. The savagery is unfathomable."

A Nightmare Unfolds: Yoni Asher's Ordeal
The first to share their ordeal was Yoni Asher, who joined virtually from Israel. His family's story is one of unimaginable distress. His wife Doron, who holds German citizenship, along with their two young daughters, Raz and Aviv, and other family members, were taken hostage by Hamas.

Yoni Asher described the horrifying moment when his life was shattered. He recalled, "On Saturday morning… I woke up to the worst nightmare of my life. My wife was visiting her mother at one of the kibbutzim, and I stayed home. I got a phone call from my wife, scared, scared, whispering, terrifying, saying that she's hearing gunshots and people are entering the house. Later on, I saw a video, and on this video, I saw my wife and two daughters being taken away in a vehicle, and I recognized them."

The anguish in his voice was palpable. He expressed, "I can't describe such a moment in words where you watch your whole family get taken away from you."

A Desperate Plea: Liam and Alana Zeitchik's Loved Ones
Liam and Alana Zeitchik spoke about their six family members — Danielle Alony, Sharon Alony Cunio, David Cunio, Julie Cunio, Emma Cunio, and Amelia Alony — who were also abducted. Their words echoed the sentiments of many in this heart-wrenching gathering: "We want them back. It's all we want. We don't want war. The world should be together with us."

Hope Amidst Darkness: Rabbi Burton Visotzky's Testimony
Rabbi Burton Visotzky shared the story of his cousin, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was among those taken. "Hersh had just celebrated his 23rd birthday and knew there was this great dance party going on, so he went," Visotzky recounted. "As dawn broke, Hamas attacked, and they blew off part of his arm with guns or a grenade, and then they took him captive."

He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting, "He must be in dire need of medical care."

The United States' Commitment: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield's Words
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., addressed the assembly. She firmly stated, "Let us be clear, there's absolutely no place for this evil in the world. No justification, no excuse." She assured, "Know that the United States, working closely with our Israeli partners, is doing everything we can to secure the release of all hostages."

A Soothing Anthem: "Hatikva"
The meeting came to a poignant conclusion as the gathering, emotionally charged and unified in purpose, came together to sing "Hatikva," Israel's national anthem. The anthem, performed by Israeli singer Noa Kirel, resonated with unwavering hope, a symbol of the resilience of those gathered and their determination to see their loved ones safely returned.

In a world marked by division, such moments of shared anguish and hope serve as a reminder of the power of unity in the face of adversity. The plea is simple: "We want them back."