Rachel Goldberg, a desperate mother, has been tirelessly advocating for the release of her son Hersh, who has been held captive by Hamas for 54 days [53f0edee]. Hersh was captured during the invasion by Hamas terrorists in Israel on October 7, where he lost his left arm [53f0edee]. Despite his injuries, Rachel Goldberg has been trying to ensure proper medical care for her son, reaching out to organizations such as the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, but Hamas has denied access [53f0edee]. Frustrated with the lack of pressure from these organizations, she has also sought support from the US Embassy, receiving overwhelming support from the US administration [53f0edee]. Goldberg's feelings about Israel's decision to trade detained Palestinians for civilian hostages are described as complicated [53f0edee]. She portrays her son as a kind and curious person who believed in peace and coexistence, and she continues to hope for his safe release [53f0edee].
In another development, Hamas militants have released Yocheved Lifshitz, an Israeli grandmother known for her activism in promoting peace and helping sick Palestinians in Gaza get to hospitals [32492612]. The release of Lifshitz is a result of negotiations between Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar [32492612]. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a significant number of casualties [32492612]. The Egyptian government has been actively involved in deescalation efforts and securing aid for Gaza [32492612]. However, the success of the negotiations remains uncertain [32492612].
In a separate incident, Liora Argamani, a cancer-ridden Israeli mother, pleads with Hamas to release her daughter, Noa, who has been held captive in Gaza since October [00c8e831]. Argamani fears that she may not live long enough to see her daughter again [00c8e831]. Qatari and Egyptian mediators have announced that Hamas has agreed to release 13 Israelis and seven 'foreigners' in exchange for 39 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel [00c8e831]. As the world awaits this second release, Argamani's only wish is to hug and see her daughter before her condition deteriorates further [00c8e831].
Seventeen hostages, including 13 Israelis and four Thai citizens, were also released by Hamas [042a7b40]. Among the hostages was Emily Hand, who was initially believed to be dead [042a7b40]. Avigail, another hostage, had her parents killed in the militant rampage and was held captive for weeks [042a7b40]. The hostages being freed are women and children [042a7b40].
The Israeli-Hamas conflict has also resulted in a tragic incident at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, where an explosion caused by a rocket-propelled bomb hit a paved area in the hospital compound, resulting in a high number of casualties [042a7b40]. The exact count of casualties is yet to be determined, and further investigation is needed [042a7b40].
Yocheved Lifshitz, an elderly Israeli peace advocate who was recently freed from Hamas captivity, revealed that she met with Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar during her ordeal [8987269b]. Lifshitz questioned Sinwar about his actions towards people who support peace, to which Sinwar remained silent [8987269b]. Lifshitz and her husband were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas' surprise attack on southern Israel [8987269b]. Sinwar allegedly met with other abductees and assured them of their safety [8987269b]. Sinwar, who was previously imprisoned for the abduction and murder of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians, was released in 2011 and designated as a terrorist by the US in 2015 [8987269b].
Ahmed Salaymeh, the youngest Palestinian prisoner released by Israel, expresses regret for the bloodshed of the Palestinian people. He was arrested at the age of 14 for throwing stones at a settler and sentenced to seven months in prison. His brother, Ayham, was also arrested for the same reason and is currently under house arrest. The family's life has been disrupted by the arrests, and they feel imprisoned themselves. The grandmother describes the constant harassment by Israeli authorities and expresses frustration that their children are not allowed to live in peace. [916fc45c]
Eman Abd El-Ghaffour, a Palestinian mother, lost her home and family members in an Israeli bombardment in Gaza. Her daughter and husband were killed, and her son Mohannad, who has cerebral palsy, was severely injured. She took him to Egypt for treatment, where he is receiving care. The journey was perilous, but they were able to cross the border. However, she is concerned for her other children who were left behind in Gaza. The situation in Gaza is dire, with a shortage of medical supplies. This story highlights the tragedy faced by many mothers in Gaza due to conflict and displacement. [8ca28096]
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, a Saudi pediatric surgeon, successfully separated conjoined twins Haneen and Farah in 2018. Haneen, now six years old, is alive and thriving despite health issues. Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed concern about the well-being of Haneen and her parents due to the recent conflict in Gaza [1f5f7c57].
In Surat, India, a road accident victim named Hansa Sondagar has given a new lease of life to six people through organ donation [c8c25436]. Hansa was declared brain-dead, and her husband Ramesh approved the donation of her organs. Two hands, two kidneys, the heart, and two corneas were harvested from Hansa and transplanted to recipients in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and a city hospital [c8c25436]. The Sondagar family resides in Kholwad near Kamrej, and Ramesh is a carpenter [c8c25436].
Lebanese doctor Abd El Kader Al-Askar has achieved a medical breakthrough by successfully treating a 15-year-old Japanese boy suffering from basilar invagination, a rare condition [78405904]. The boy was quadriplegic when he visited Okayama University Hospital, but after a four-hour emergency surgery performed by Al-Askar, he fully recovered and regained the use of all four limbs [78405904]. Al-Askar, who is currently in Japan for a medical mission in advanced spine surgery and the treatment of back pain, has demonstrated his expertise and dedication to saving lives [78405904].
Terry Anderson, a US journalist who was held hostage by Islamic militants in Lebanon for nearly seven years, has died at the age of 76 [91e04620]. Anderson was abducted in 1985 by members of Hezbollah while reporting on the violence in Lebanon. He was beaten, chained, threatened with death, and kept in solitary confinement during his captivity. Anderson was the longest-held of the Western hostages abducted by Hezbollah. After his release, he led a peripatetic life, teaching journalism, operating businesses, and struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. He died at his home in New York, and the cause of death is unknown. Anderson's daughter, Sulome Anderson, confirmed his death.
Ada Sagi, a 75-year-old Israeli peace activist and former hostage of Hamas, spoke to the BBC about her 53-day ordeal in Gaza and how it destroyed her belief in peace between Israelis and Palestinians [ada91d07]. Sagi was taken hostage in October 2023 and was released in November. She now believes that the world hates Jews. Sagi is urging the Israeli government to agree to a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. She also revealed that she and other hostages were held in an apartment in Khan Younis, Gaza, by paid guards, and that Hamas paid Gazans to house Israeli captives. Sagi is currently living in Kiryat Gat and is writing a book and working with children with ADHD. She is determined to continue talking about her experience and raising awareness [ada91d07].
The Families Forum will release footage of the kidnapping of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Or Levy, and Eliya Cohen by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 [834da1f2]. Hersh's hand was severed during the attack. On April 24, Hamas released a video of Hersh in captivity. Or Levy arrived at Kibbutz Re'im with his wife Einav, who was later murdered. Einav was killed in the shelter, and Or was taken to Gaza [834da1f2].
A Montreal woman's family is stuck in Gaza amidst the Israeli-Hamas conflict [88f345eb]. No further details or information are provided about the situation [88f345eb].
Hundreds of Jewish community members and supporters held a rally in downtown Toronto to commemorate the nine months Israeli hostages have been held in captivity by Hamas [fec642c5]. The rally was organized by OneGlobalVoice, a Toronto-based collective advocating for the release of the hostages. Family members of hostages, including Canadian citizen Yasmine Magal, whose cousin Omer Neutra was abducted on October 7, were present at the rally. Magal expressed shock and sadness that it has been nine months since they have heard from Neutra. She emphasized that the issue of hostage-taking by Hamas should be a global concern. Karina Arayev, whose sister is one of over a dozen women still held in captivity by Hamas, pleaded for the release of all the women and hostages. The rally aimed to raise awareness and foster empathy for the ongoing plight of the hostages and to remind the world of the urgent need for their release.
Andrey Kozlov, a former hostage who was rescued from Hamas captivity, spoke publicly for the first time at a rally in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv [2f66ae56]. He described his time in Gaza as a living hell and expressed gratitude to Arnon Zmora and the IDF soldiers who rescued him [2f66ae56]. Kozlov called for a deal to bring all hostages back home and compared the rescue operation to the Entebbe rescue operation [2f66ae56]. Other family members of hostages and victims criticized the government for not meeting with them and called for a deal to release the hostages [2f66ae56]. Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in Jerusalem, calling for a hostage deal [2f66ae56].