New York City activists brief community on hostage situation in Gaza Strip and share stories of loved ones
NEW YORK -- No matter how many times the posters of those held hostage by Hamas are torn away and ripped down from the streets of New York, Omer Lubaton-Granot says it gives him even more fuel to keep them in the forefront.
"We want to keep this story alive because we want to bring our families back alive, and were trying to reach out and do as much events as we can," said Lubaton-Granot, who helped spearhead Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Lubaton-Granot and others hosted a community briefing through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, giving an audience of over 1000 people the opportunity to hear experts in the field and those impacted to discuss the ongoing hostage situation inside of the Gaza Strip.
"We don't know how many of them are held by Hamas, and how many are held by other organizations," said Eran Etzion, a Non-resident scholar at Middle East Institute.
We first brought you New York City resident Moshe Lavi's story last week.
"Hamas terrorist and their accomplices, where there are many entered their home," said Lavi.
During the forum, he retold the story about his sister's family that was held hostage for hours in their home by Hamas. His brother-in-law Omri is still missing.
"It's touched everyone as Israeli, as Jews, and I think as human. It's unbelievable that babies and children and elderly are held hostage in a war that, they were not part of it," said Lubaton-Granot.
The group believes the pressure the U.S. and other countries are putting on Hamas will continue to help the release of others. So for through mediations, a total of four hostages have been released by Hamas — two Americans and two Israelis.
"Each soul is the whole world we say and its amazing to see their health and safe and sound with their families and we hope to see all the 200 held hostage," said Lubaton-Granot.
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