Uncertain return

NICK EICHER, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: Americans still held by Hamas

This week, Hamas rejected yet another potential cease-fire deal, and pressure continues to mount on the Israeli government to try to get those hostages home, held since October 7th, the day of one of the worst single-day attacks on Jews in history.

So far, some 100 of about 240 have been released, and it’s unknown whether the rest are dead or alive.

Meanwhile, Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel following the killing inside Iran of a man said to have been a key figure in the October 7th attack.

How might all this affect diplomatic talks?

WORLD Radio’s Mary Muncy reports.

MARY MUNCY: On Friday, October 6th, Orna and Ronen Neutra told their son, Omer, they would talk to him tomorrow. They were in New York and he was in Israel working with the Israeli Defense Forces. They were trying to figure out what they would do for his birthday the next week.

ORNA NEUTRA: We always check the news, you know, having a son on the other side of the ocean.

It was 11:30 at night New York time and 6:30 in the morning Israel time… on October 7th.

NBC NEWS: Hamas has launched a surprise attack within Israel’s borders.

PBS NEWS HOUR: Gun battles raged for hours in communities across southern Israel.

CBC NEWS: There are also reports of Israeli civilians and soldiers being held hostage.

Omer’s parents tried calling him.

ORNA NEUTRA: He didn't answer. He was usually He's usually very responsive.

He wasn’t seeing their WhatsApp messages either.

ORNA NEUTRA: By early Sunday morning, we already knew that he was abducted and taken captive.

By Sunday evening, the Israeli consulate formally informed them that Hamas had taken their son hostage. Now it’s been 311 days

RONAN NEUTRA: In our case, we are not even sure that our son is alive. There is no sign of life, and we just being terrorized on an ongoing basis since October 7.

The hostages are likely being held in inhumane conditions and without adequate food and water, though no third parties have been allowed to visit them.

Aviva Siegel is a preschool teacher in Israel. She told Westchester Reform Temple about her 51 days in captivity.

AVIVA SIEGEL: They did whatever they want to whenever they want to. They starved us and just sat and ate in front of us.

She was captured with her American husband Keith and held with him and two young girls.

SIEGEL: They didn’t give us water for hours, for days while they were drinking in front of us.

The Siegels were transferred several times. Once to a hole in the ground, where they couldn’t stand. She says they ran out of breathable air there several times and were left gasping on the floor. Siegel lost over 20 pounds before Hamas released her.

SIEGEL: After the Holocaust Jews all over the world said, “Never again.” But it’s happened again. Keith is still there.

Hamas is still holding at least five Americans hostage, and the terrorists have not released any proof that they or any other hostages are still alive.

Last week, White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said the administration is trying to negotiate a cease-fire that will bring the hostages home.

JOHN KIRBY: Every passing day is one more day that these hostages are in increasing danger.

Kirby says not making a deal with Hamas would mean sacrificing the lives of the hostages.

The most recent deal would have released some of the hostages in exchange for a cease-fire… but Hamas rejected it on Sunday.

BILL ROGGIO: This is Hamas’ major bargaining chip.

Bill Roggio is a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He says Israel is not likely to agree to Hamas’ terms.

ROGGIO: Israel wants those hostages back. Hamas is not going to give them up, unless they get what they want or unless the military takes them by force.

Roggio says if Hamas is allowed to have a safe haven in Gaza, it will lead to more attacks… and possibly more hostages.

ROGGIO: Hamas stated goal is the destruction of Israel. It's not a two state solution.

Since October 7th, Israel has been attacked on two fronts. Hamas in the south and the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah has been firing rockets into the north. That’s combined with their efforts against the Houthi rebels and Iran itself.

Then the Supreme Leader of Iran ordered the military to “harshly punish” Israel after Israel assassinated the leader of Hamas in the Iranian capital. And that’s stoked fears of a full-fledged war with Iran.

Roggio says if Iran attacks, negotiations for hostages will likely go out the window, since Israel just wouldn’t have the bandwidth. Besides, he says Hamas likely wouldn’t be willing to negotiate anyway.

ROGGIO: It could read that situation as ‘well, if Iran and Hezbollah are fighting Israel, they could actually win. They may actually be able to survive. Why would they hand over those hostages and negotiations?’

Orna and Ronen Neutra know there is a lot of politics around getting their son back… but they don’t think that should keep him from coming home.

On Omer’s 22nd birthday, the week after he was taken, they gathered with some of their community. They baked a cake, lit candles, and talked about Omer until the flames went out.

ORNA NEUTRA: He's a big goofball, but also very serious. Sleep wasn't important. Where he fell asleep eventually was even less important. Once he came, he came for a visit from Israel, and he kept talking about how he missed his bed. And then I find him asleep on the carpet in the living room, like, ‘what? Get in your bed!’

Now, Orna and Ronen spend a lot of time talking about their son to anyone who will listen, hoping someone will help him come home. But in the meantime, they’re praying Psalm 23 over him.

ORNA NEUTRA: [RECITING PSALM 23 IN HEBREW]

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Mary Muncy.

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