One year ago, 251 people were abducted by Hamas from Israel and dragged into Gaza. Ninety-seven hostages remain in captivity. At least 34 of them are believed to be dead.
Twelve people with U.S. citizenship were among the abducted. Four were released last year.
Three of the Americans, as confirmed by Israeli authorities, are dead: Judih Weinstein Haggai and Gadi Haggai, a couple in their 70s, and Itay Chen, 19. May their memories be a blessing. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the young man — born in California, raised in Israel — whose smiling face in pictures is now a heartrending image of the calamity of October 7, is also among the dead. He was one of six hostages executed by Hamas in August. The IDF found their bodies, with bullets through their heads, in a tunnel under Rafah, at the southern end of Gaza. May Hersh’s memory, and the memories of Eden, Carmel, Almog, Alex, and Ori, be a blessing.
Four American-Israeli hostages are believed to be still alive. We must not forget them. We must not forget the immense suffering that they and the other hostages who may yet live in the darkness under Gaza have endured as victims of Hamas’s barbarity and Jew-hatred.
These are the four:
Edan Alexander, 20, grew up in Tenafly, N.J., and graduated from Tenafly High School, where he was a swimming champ. Edan delayed college to volunteer for the Israeli army and was serving near Gaza when he was kidnapped. He spoke to his mother by phone on the morning of the attack, amid bullets flying. That was the last communication his family had with him.
Omer Neutra, 22, from Long Island, N.Y., volunteered for the Israeli army after a gap year in Israel and had plans to attend Binghamton University. He was serving as a tank commander near Gaza when he was seized by Hamas. A Knicks fan, a high school team captain, a member of United Synagogue Youth, he is described by family and friends in his hometown of Plainview as a joyful young man.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, with family ties to Connecticut, was abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where his pregnant wife and two little daughters survived inside a barricaded safe room. During the attack, Sagui’s mother miraculously escaped from Hamas captors and was able to run back to the kibbutz. Sagui has not yet met his third daughter, born during his captivity.
Keith Siegel, 65, from North Carolina, has lived in Israel for many years. He and his wife, Aviva, were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Aviva was released after 51 days in captivity. In April, Hamas put out a video of Keith and another Israeli hostage — the last proof of life that Keith’s wife and two daughters have received.
Pray for their safe return — for the return of all the hostages.