In a bracing tale of immense courage and unresolved anguish, the relatives of Eli and Yossi, two brothers abducted from their kibbutz on October 7th, are speaking from the heart. Captured in the unforgiving theater of conflict, their captors unyielding, these brothers are survived by their families who become the voice of their unspoken ordeal.
Yossi, a devoted father and husband, was visibly snatched by terrorists under the watchful eyes of his flabbergasted family on that fateful day. Eyewitnesses recall the horrendous scene as Yossi, desperately clinging on to the handle of a safe room, was overpowered by the insurgents. Heartbreakingly, their canine companion was ruthlessly gunned down in the process, compounding the trauma they experienced.
In the sanctity of darkness, Yossi, along with his daughter's partner, Ofir Engel, and another young neighbor, was callously bundled into a car and driven into the abyss of Gaza. In a parting, bittersweet moment, Yossi's daughter, Yuval managed to convey her love to Ofir. Fortunately, as part of a hostage trade-off in November, Ofir was released, sparking a glimmer of hope.
Simultaneously at Kibbutz Berri, Eli's perturbed family met a similar fate. After a couple of days incommunicado, the devastating news of Eli's wife, Lian and two daughters shot dead seeped in. Lian's last texts to her family, revealing an unprecedented fear they were subjected to, will continue to haunt their relatives.
In the face of such heart-rending adversity, Eli and Yossi's niece Shira passionately advocates for their release. Having forfeited her personal mourning to rally for her uncle's freedom, she insists they have paid an unthinkable price already. The harrowing experience has taken her all the way to New York to plea for international support.
As the world grapples with this human tragedy, Shira's unabated courage to tell their tale sends a powerful message of hope amidst despair and a call to immediate action. Amongst the horrors of the tragedy, their unwavering spirit continues a tireless cry for justice and the safe return of her family.
