5 MONTHS ON ..STILL IN HELL
»»Hostage families plea for Hamas to ‘show humanity’ »»Fears for pregnant rape victims as ordeal continues
DESPERATE families have pleaded for the safe release of Israelis in Gaza five months after they were taken hostage.
Some spoke of their fears for women who could be pregnant after being raped by Hamas terrorists.
At a press conference in London, relatives urged Hamas to show humanity and release loved ones.
Inbal Zach, whose cousin Tal Shoham, 39, was kidnapped on October 7, said: “As a woman I’m terrified for them – and terrified for everyone. If there are ladies who are pregnant as a result of rape, it’s five months now.”
More than 1,100 people were killed during Hamas’s raid on Israel, with around 250 held captive.
This week, the UN said there was convincing information some hostages had been subjected to sexual violence, including rape and torture.
Of the 134 remaining hostages, 19 are women, and Ms Zach yesterday held up a poster demanding: “Get them out of hell.” Orit Meir also told of her helplessness after her son, Almog Meir, 21, was snatched from the Supernova Music Festival, near kibbutz Re’im.
He had phoned her to say rockets were firing from all directions and that he loved her.
Breaking down in tears, she said: “He is a sensitive boy, a happy boy. How I miss him. On October 7, I was home alone, I wanted to get him but I couldn’t.”
Avivit Yablonka, whose sister Chanan was abducted, also joined the event at the Israeli Embassy.
Or Levy, 33, had just arrived at the music festival with wife Eynav, 32, when the Hamas attacks began.
Their two-year-old boy Almog has not seen his parents since. Or’s brother Michael said: “My little brother had to watch his wife being murdered before he was abducted.
“He is somewhere in tunnels in Gaza being held by monsters.”
Mothers of teenage girls being detained will today launch a Bring Back Our Girls campaign to tie in with International Women’s Day.