Do You Return All the Abductees or Only Some?

A Day in the Life of an Israeli MOM: Alona Ricanati Hashai
23/11/2023

Hi dear friends, another week has passed in the routine of the war that I have been living in recent times.

My friend’s husband is still missing and we don’t know what happened to him. He is among the last 8 missing people who do not know what happened to them that Saturday. Still looking for his body and still looking for him among the kidnapped.

Last Saturday I accompanied her to a large rally held in Tel Aviv for the release of the abductees. It is very important to her that he be defined as an abductee even though there is no evidence that he was abducted and this is because she fears a situation where there will be a deal to return abductees and after Israel thinks that all the abductees have returned home, Hamas will expose him and demand new demands.

The families of the abductees spoke at that rally. Sad and moving and heartbreaking speeches.

In the speeches it was possible to understand the discussion that is taking place today in Israel these days. Do you return all the abductees or only some?

At first, Avichai Brodetz, whose wife and three children were kidnapped, spoke and asked that his family be released, even if it is in the framework of the release of some of the abductees. “The main thing is that they arrive home and immediately”, these were his words.

Then Yoni Asher, whose wife and children are also kidnapped, spoke and said that a deal to return abductees should include all the abductees or none. How brave of him to say these things. He said that the leader of Hamas fulfills his goal by creating conflict within the people and within the families of the abductees and weakens us
Since then, a deal has already been made with Hamas for the release of the children and women, and we are eagerly waiting to see that it will actually take place and they will return home safely.

Even if there is a return of the women and children home, and there will still remain captive adults, young men and women, soldiers and female soldiers, the heart is filled with concern when these will return home.

Meanwhile, my friend continues to worry endlessly about her husband, who is not included in any list at all, and it breaks my heart. Here is a picture of me with her from the rally.