Families of people kidnapped by Hamas deplore Gaza violence and demand release of hostages
The families of American citizens kidnapped by Hamas in Israel told NBC News’ Lester Holt that they decry the killings of innocent civilians in Gaza and pleaded with the international community to remain focused on the plight of their loved ones who are still in captivity.
The families of American citizens kidnapped by Hamas in Israel nearly six months ago told NBC News’ Lester Holt on Thursday that they decry the killings of innocent civilians in Gaza and pleaded with the international community to remain focused on the plight of their loved ones still in captivity.
“There’s not a single person here who does not want to make sure that the people that are living in Gaza are safe [and] that they are taken care of,” said Liz Hirsh-Naftali, the great-aunt of Abigail Mor Edan, a 4-year-old girl who was released from Hamas captivity in late November.
“But where we are now is that we are a humanitarian group that is looking out, because we have to, for these hostages. … We have no choice,” Hirsh-Naftali added. She was referring to herself and the 11 other people who had assembled in New York for a group interview nearly half a year after Hamas militants stormed their homes and kibbutzim.
Hirsh-Naftali and others strongly condemned an Israeli military strike earlier this week that killed seven people working for a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza. (Israel said the killings were a "grave mistake.") The families gathered Thursday shortly after President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “unacceptable,” according to the White House.
Liz Hirsh-Naftali.Vanessa Leroy / NBC NewsGillian Kaye, the stepmother of Israeli American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, denounced the “horrific loss of life” in the Gaza Strip since the start of Israel’s retaliatory military campaign, saying in part: “How can you not look at [Gaza] and not feel unbelievable sympathy for the suffering that’s going on there?”
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