UN hears plea from hostage’s brother as families warn partial release empowers Hamas

December 19, 2024 by Anna Epshtein
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A relative of one of the Israeli hostages briefed the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, the first time a family member has addressed the council. But relatives of the captives warned that a partial release would play into the hands of Hamas.

Kobi Samerano, father of murdered hostage Yonatan Samerano speaks at a Tikva Forum event in Tel Aviv on Dec. 18, 2024. Photo by Yossi Zeliger/TPS-IL

“I stand before you not only as Michael Levy but as a brother, as a human being and as someone whose life has been shattered by unimaginable loss and despair,” Levy told the Security Council by a remote link. “My brother, Or Levy, is one of the 100 hostages who have been held in Gaza for 439 days – days of fear, sorrow and a silence that resonates louder than any words.”

Or and his wife, Einav, were attending the Nova Music Festival when Hamas attacked on the morning of October 7, 2023. Einav was killed and Or was taken into captivity.

“Hamas’ actions are not just blatant violations of international law, they are an assault on humanity itself,” Levy said. “Holding civilians hostage, men, women, children, is a violation of the principles that this very council was created to protect, and yet, your silence is deafening. Your inaction is suffocating. And for every day this council fails to act, the message to the world is clear: that some lives are worth saving and others are not.”

At the UN, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters that a widely-anticipated agreement would see the release of “humanitarian hostages” first.

“There is a linkage between the ceasefire and the release of hostages. Basically, we expect something similar to the previous deal a year ago – there will be a prolonged ceasefire and during the ceasefire hostages will be released gradually. We are expecting mainly humanitarian hostages to be released – sick people and women,” Danon said. He was referring to a temporary ceasefire in November 2023 in which 105 hostages were released.

But at a separate gathering in Tel Aviv, families of hostages said they would not support an agreement that did not see the release of all the captives.

“I don’t want the people of Israel be in euphoria because of the deal. We are at this stage in the negotiations when we are going to leave part of the hostages behind forever, and let Hamas to get back to life,” said Yaron Or, father of Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival together with his girlfriend Noa Argamani.

Tzvika Mor, whose son, Eitan was also abducted at the music festival said, “If you are going to bring back all the hostages, on the same day, on the same bus – we are for it. If you are going to fall again in the hands of Hamas who plays with you and with us, then we won’t support such a deal.”

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.

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