Eitan Yahalomi, a 12-year-old from Nir Oz, has returned to his mother Bat Sheva's arms in the fourth round of releases completed Monday
On that fateful Saturday, the Yahalomi family sat in their living room for two hours – Oded, the partner of Bat-Sheva, Eitan, the 12-year-old, Yael, the 10-year-old, and their baby sister, one year and eight months old. At some point, Oded decided to step outside so that the three children would be safe indoors, and he would guard them from outside with a firearm. Around 10:00 AM, four terrorists entered their home, and there was an exchange of gunfire between Oded and the terrorists. When they exited the living room, they found Oded shot and bleeding at the entrance of the house.
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The terrorists took the mother and the children, splitting them into two motorcycles. Eitan was seated on a motorcycle with a foreign worker who was present, while Bat-Sheva, Yael, and the baby were placed on another motorcycle. "We advanced towards Gaza, and we were very close when suddenly two tanks from the army, I don't know from where, arrived and started moving in the area dispersing the convoy of abductees in all directions. The terrorist stopped our motorcycle and took us off. From there, I did not see Eitan anymore, I don't know what happened to him," said Bat-Sheva. After managing to escape with her two daughters and return to the kibbutz area, they saw a bus with soldiers, and it took them from there. It was only then that they discovered Oded was no longer at the entrance of the house; in hindsight, it turned out that he was also abducted.
Or (16) and Yagil Jacob (12), Nir Oz
Or and Yagil are returning home tonight (Monday) to the embrace of their mother, Renana Goma, who never stopped fighting for their return. On that dreadful Saturday, terrorists also broke into the family's home and abducted the two brothers, Or at 16, and Yuval at 12, who were alone in the house.
The brothers hid in a safe room in their home in Nir Oz, and they managed to inform their mother about the intrusion. Even though she heard Yagil saying to one of the abductors, "I'm too small, don't take me," later an animated video was created by the creators of the film "Waltz with Bashir," telling the brothers' story. Separately, the father, Yair Jacob, and his partner, Mirav Tal, were also abducted to Gaza.
A few days after the abduction, the Palestine Islamic Jihad released a video in which Yagil was seen in Gaza, claiming that they were willing to release him for humanitarian reasons, while at the same tim,e it was announced that he has a severe allergy to peanuts. In the end, the release did not materialize, and only today does he return to his mother's arms – while his father remains in Hamas captivity.
Sharon (34) and twins Ema (3) and Yuly (3) Cunio , Nir Oz
Sharon and David Cunio were abducted from Nir Oz along with their three-year-old twin daughters, Ema and Yuly. Sharon, who recovered from cancer in the past year, returns to Israel with her two daughters, while the father, David, remains in Gaza. Their son, Tom, a released soldier who was not at home during the abduction, survives.
Video: The 11 hostages being handed over to Israel, November 27, 2023
In an interview with Israel Hayom Eitan Cunio, David's twin brother, recently said: "Yuly and Emma are loving, cheerful children who enjoy dancing, having fun, and being sociable. They are held by terrorists and need to come home now."
He further stated: "When we learned that David and Sharon have twin daughters, it was surprising, as it usually skips a generation. Of course, it was challenging at first, both the first birth and twins, but we helped them, and we look forward to helping them again – only they need to come back."
"On Friday, before the abduction, it was a very joyful evening. The entire family was in full attendance, everyone was dancing and singing. My daughters still don't know that their cousins were abducted; they feel that something is happening, and we understand that questions will come."
Karina (51) and Daughters: Mika (18) and Yuval (11), Nir Oz
Mother and daughters return to the brother – and together, they await the family's father: The story of the Engel family made headlines after four family members were abducted from Nir Oz by Hamas. The family patriarch, Ronen (55), Karina (51), and their daughters, Mika (18) and Yuval (11), were kidnapped. Only Tom, the eldest son and a released soldier who was not at home during the abduction, survived.
Karina, who recovered in the past year from cancer, returns to Israel with her two daughters, while Ronen remains in Gaza. Tom will receive a hug from his mother after being left alone.
In an interview with Israel Hayom Ronen said recently: "My mother is the strongest person I know. In the past two years, she battled cancer and underwent a year of treatments that broke her body – yet she remained strong. This is what my parents taught me – to stay strong."
Sahar (16) and Erez (12) Kalderon
Hadas Kalderon fought fiercely, like a lioness, to bring back her children – Sahar, 16, and Erez, 12 – who were abducted to Gaza along with their father, Ofer Kalderon.
Erez marked his 12th birthday in Hamas captivity last month. He was abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, together with his father Ofer, and his 16-year-old sister Sahar.
His grandmother Carmela and cousin Noa were also abducted and murdered by the terrorists. Hours after the abduction, a video was released showing Hamas terrorists seizing Erez, and this is how the family understood that their loved ones were taken.
In one of the arrests, Hadas, the mother, recounted, "I hear my son every day shouting in my ear, 'Mom, save me.' That's what I hear, and my heart breaks and shatters, unfortunately, I don't even have time to mourn."
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