In another life, in the life that existed before October 7, the Avigdori family argued over trifles. Like any other family. Noam, the smallest of the family, insisted on expanding it with a dog. Her parents were not entirely convinced. Now, after spending almost 50 days in captivity in the Gaza Stripafter being kidnapped in the Beeri kibbutz with her mother, Sharon, the possibility of fulfilling that preteen whim has become the greatest blessing for Noam’s father. Hen Avigdori promised her little daughter on television in front of the entire country that when she returned home, they would go looking for a dog together. His “two girls,” as he calls them, were released on Saturday and they are already back in Hod Hasharon, in the center of the Jewish State. The most desired dog in all of Israel will soon arrive.
“In the end, there will be two (dogs) because another of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, also released these days, promised to help her adopt a dog,” explains her uncle, Zohar Avigdori. Although Zohar has been able to enjoy the most longed-for reunion of his two lives, the one before and after the fateful October 7, has not given itself over to happiness. “When people outside the circle of the families of the hostages and missing people appear happy and congratulate me, I simply cannot feel it, the work is not finished“, he confesses, sincerely. Although about fifty of the captives who were kidnapped on October 7 have left, they remain at least 167 from them. For now, Hamas has only released Israeli women and children, as it announced it would do. Only one man also with Russian nationality has left Gaza. The others are not expected to do so during this truce that ends Wednesday.
“Today they are not on the list either”
Zohar, like many other families, has not separated itself from the pressure activism that the loved ones of the captives have exercised since they were kidnapped. “We have to act at one in this,” he says. In recent days, the majority of families have not left the agony and the uncertainty, although they have shared the occasional happiness due to the reunions of their new friends. Without allowing any moment of rest, the Bibas family remains mobilized to bring her loved ones back home. Offri has not heard from his brother for 53 days Yardennor his sister-in-law Shirinor his nephews Ariel4 years old, and Kfir, who has served 10 months in captivity. “Today they are not on the list either,” he laments in front of the international press, which he attends to in a video call from his car between events and demonstrations.
“I want to believe that it is part of a psychological war against uswhich is working perfectly for them because the last four days have been a total nightmare,” she confesses, exhausted. Both Offri and her cousin, Aylon Keshet, also dedicated to recovering his family, believe that Shiri and the children were separated from their father Furthermore, on Monday the Israeli Army informed them that the Bibas family was transferred by Hamas to another Palestinian armed group in Gaza. This is how they gave up, who knows, their hopes that they will be released during this ceasefire. A day before it ends, they have gathered dozens of people in the renowned Captives Square from Tel Aviv to remember them by launching orange balloons, the same color as the hair of the youngest captives still present in Gaza.
Attacks on soldiers
The hostages released so far have not yet addressed the press. Their families continue to be their voice as they rest and grieve. “Noam and Sharon are overwhelmed, because they are realizing that now they are celebrities” in Israel, explains Zohar Avigdori. “In addition, in this time, they have not been able to fully understand what happened on October 7; When they leave, on the happiest day of their lives, they have discovered that They have lost three family members and that entire communities were erased and burned in a single day,” he notes, also from a moving car. Furthermore, most of the details about his captivity are not public, as they could help the Israeli army to find those who remain when they resume their ground operation.
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During this Tuesday, the truce has faltered again following complaints by Israeli troops of a violation of the ceasefire. According to the Army, three explosive devices had been detonated near soldiers in two separate incidents in northern Gaza, causing several of them to be killed. slightly injured. Despite this incident, the penultimate scheduled exchange of 10 Israeli hostages for 30 Palestinian prisoners has continued. Hamas has also freed two other hostages of another nationality. Meanwhile, the Bibas live “in the dark.” “We know nothing about their well-being or their condition or where they are being held,” acknowledges Ayllon Keshet, Yarden and Offri’s cousin. “This is a nightmare scenario, This uncertainty is very hard and we are terribly worried about them,” he confesses, while holding a portrait of little Kfir in his hand and wearing a T-shirt that says ‘Bring them back home now.’
“Is a humanitarian issue from day one,” denounces Offri Bibas. “This is a war crime and we ask the Israeli Government and the peace negotiators Qatar and Egypt “To do everything they can to return the women and children home, as promised in the ceasefire agreement,” he emphasizes. Those families who already have their loved ones at home are looking further afield. ” It is important that the objective of the hostages passes in front of annihilating Hamas,” clarifies Zohar Avigdori. “It is the minimum, since the contract of the citizens of Israel with their Government that was broken on October 7 will take decades to recover“, he states, among anecdotes experienced in the last few days in the family home that have become treasures.