Families of Hamas-held hostages tell of growing concern for their fate

The families of individuals taken hostage by Hamas are increasingly anxious about the well-being of their loved ones. Twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman are still being held in Gaza, and their family is deeply concerned as uncertainty grows regarding the number of hostages who are still alive. One family expressed that the hostages are in danger every single day they remain in captivity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed this issue recently, responding to a statement made by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that only 21 of the hostages taken during the Hamas-led attacks are still alive. The BBC conducted interviews with two families, including the brother of a hostage who was released by Hamas earlier this year, following Israel's security cabinet's decision to escalate military operations in Gaza. Netanyahu stated that the ministers had agreed on a robust plan to dismantle Hamas and rescue the hostages, adding that the 2. 1 million residents of Gaza would be relocated for their safety. One family expressed their hope that the military would be deployed solely to assist in freeing the hostages and not for any other purposes. Liran Berman, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv have been held by Hamas for 19 months, is particularly worried. The brothers were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, a day when approximately 1,200 people lost their lives due to Hamas gunfire, and Gali and Ziv were among 251 others taken hostage. Since that day, more than 52,780 individuals have died in Gaza as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Israel halted all aid and supplies on March 2 and resumed military operations two weeks later after a two-month ceasefire, during which 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai hostages were released in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. After learning about Israel's plan to expand its military presence in Gaza, Liran Berman told BBC News, 'I hope that Israel is sending the forces to put pressure on Hamas to negotiate. When Hamas feels threatened, they tend to make deals. I hope they are not sending the troops for conquest or revenge. ' Liran Berman is also concerned about his brothers' mental health. He stated, 'We know they are alive. The released hostages have seen them. ' He believes that Gali and Ziv may have sustained injuries during their abduction, and he fears for their mental well-being after such a prolonged period in captivity. The release of other hostages who appeared frail and malnourished has heightened Liran's worries about his brothers' conditions. He emphasized, 'We need to apply pressure on Hamas and its supporters. ' Or Levy, who was held by Hamas for 491 days, was unaware of whether his wife, Einav, had survived the attack on the Nova music festival where he was taken. Tragically, she did not survive, and for over a year, his three-year-old son, Almog, was left without both parents. In February, Or was released, but he was in a weakened and emaciated state. His brother, Michael Levy, expressed concerns about the potential impact on the hostages if Israel were to deploy additional troops into Gaza. He stated, 'I am worried that it could affect the hostages, as the terrorists might decide to take action against them. ' He believes that the military is capable of managing the situation and ensuring the hostages' safety, but it remains a constant concern. Michael is advocating for increased pressure to be placed on Hamas to secure the release of the hostages. He remarked, 'This is a crime against humanity, and everyone, including President Trump, needs to do more to bring them back. ' He noted that his brother did not receive adequate food while held in Hamas's underground tunnels and had not seen sunlight during his captivity. He added, 'My brother fears that the remaining hostages will perish in captivity, as that was his greatest fear for himself, and now it is his greatest fear for those he left behind. ' Of the 251 individuals taken hostage on October 7, along with four others who had been held by Hamas for nearly a decade prior to the attacks, 59 remain in Gaza. The Israeli government has confirmed the deaths of 35 hostages, leaving 24 unaccounted for. There is now uncertainty surrounding the fate of three of these individuals. All 59 were kidnapped during the October 7 attack, with the exception of one soldier, Hadar Goldin, who was killed in combat during a previous conflict in 2014. The surviving hostages are primarily men in their 20s and 30s, with the exception of Omri Miran, who turned 48 in April. Among the 35 confirmed deceased by Israel, nearly all were men aged between 19 and 86, with three being women. Since the recent releases, former hostages have been sharing their harrowing experiences. Tal Shoham, who was released after 505 days, spoke at a UN event last month, recounting, 'There were many instances where we received just one pita bread for an entire day… Traumatised by hunger, we collected crumb after crumb. ' Eliya Cohen, who was also released after 505 days, shared that once a week, Hamas gunmen would force him and other hostages to strip naked, taunting them with remarks like, 'You are not thin enough. I'm considering reducing your food even more. ' Ilana Gritzewsky, who was released during another ceasefire in November 2023, remains concerned about her partner, Matan Zangauker, who is still a hostage. She recounted to the New York Times in March that during her abduction, she was mistreated by one of the kidnappers and believes she was also sexually assaulted in Gaza. 'When she regained consciousness, she found herself on the floor of a dilapidated building in Gaza, her shirt lifted and pants down, with seven armed men standing over her. ' Ron Krivoi, a sound engineer, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival. Last month, he described his experience in the tunnels, stating, 'We were confined in a very small cage… and had to lie down to rest – there was no room to stand. No height, no toilets, no food. We were five people.