Cousins of Needham man on list of hostages released by Hamas
NEEDHAM - Two of the hostages released on Monday have Needham ties.
Needham resident Jason Greenberg says five of his family members were kidnapped from their kibbutz near the Gaza border when Hamas attacked.
On Monday, two of his cousins - 12-year-old Erez Kalderon and 16-year-old Sahar Kalderon - were on the list of 11 hostages that were freed.
Greenberg's 13-year-old cousin and her 79-year-old grandmother were found murdered.
"It's been an incredible timeline. Mostly with lows, and today is an extreme high. The devastation that I felt upon on learning of the deaths of my cousins Carmela and Noya is matched today with the elation that I'm feeling for the release of Sahar and Erez," Greenberg said. "Knowing that my 16- and 12-year-old cousins - with whom I have spent many wonderful times - are now free and are going to be in the process of healing and recovery is one of the best feelings I've ever had.
Their dad, Ofer, is still in captivity.
"Ofer, I know in his bones, knows that his children have returned to safety. As a father, I would readily sacrifice myself for my children as I know he would, so somewhere in his soul I know that he knows," said Greenberg.
A new deal between Israel and Hamas to extend the truce in Gaza could allow for the release of even more hostages.
Greenberg was in Israel, staying north of Tel Aviv, with his father when Hamas attacked Israel and was actually supposed to visit his cousins that day. They were able to evacuate quickly. Greenberg's sister Abbey Onn lives in Israel and has been advocating for families who are missing loved ones.
"The children must come home; the rest of the hostages must come home, too," said Greenberg. "They shouldn't be tied up in this. Children don't start wars."