In a passionate plea three individuals, whose Israeli family members continue to be held as hostages by Hamas, Friday called on Angelenos to share their stories in hopes of spurring action from the United Nations for the safe return of loved ones.
During an afternoon news conference at City Hall, Councilman Bob Blumenfield welcomed sisters Ofir and Naama Weinberg, who spoke on behalf of their cousin Itai Svirsky, and Itay Raviv, who spoke on behalf of his great-uncle Avraham Munder — who both remain held captive by Hamas, they said.
Richard Hirschhaut, Odin Ozdil and Alissa Bernstein from American Jewish Committee brought these individuals to Los Angeles in an effort to share their stories.
“He’s my grandpa’s younger brother, who had been living with his family,” Raviv said. “They were there during that time, Oct. 7. His (Munder’s) son was murdered, and he was kidnapped.”
According to reports, Hamas had taken more than 200 hostages as part of their attack on Oct. 7. But a hard-negotiated truce began on Nov. 24, resulting in the release of 110 Israeli women and children, as well as foreign nationals, in exchange for about 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Raviv recognized that many people were relieved and joyful over the release of hostages, yet he was also conflicted as well, after finding out his great-uncle was still being held captive.
“This is an ongoing crime against humanity. Many innocent civilians were abducted by Hamas as they fled from their home or laid in bed. The should be home as soon as possible,” Raviv said.
Ofir Weinberg recalled the fear and confusion from receiving texts and calls from her family during the Oct. 7 attacks as gun shots could be heard outside.
She said her grandmother was rescued but her caretaker was murdered by Hamas operatives.
While Weinberg said she and her sister are relieved to know that their cousin Svirsky is alive, according to news from other individuals who were being held hostage alongside him, they worry about his mental state.
“He (Svirsky) watched his mother being murdered and then he was taken into captivity. He’s been there for 56 days,” Weinberg said.
She described her 38-year-old cousin as a sensitive, kind man who worked as a life coach, devoting himself to helping others.
“He thinks he has no family anymore. We come here today to ask you to help us communicate this fight because this is a humanitarian fight,” Weinberg said. “This is not about the conflict. This is about civilians being taken out of their homes. And we will not rest until he’s back home.”
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky reiterated the last 56 days have been “absolutely devastating” for people who lost family members, and for Jews around the world.
“All of us here in Los Angeles or Jews who know people who were kidnapped or killed or were one step removed from that — and the pain that you’re all feeling, we share with you,” Yaroslavsky said.
Councilwoman Traci Park expressed her empathy for the families. She added, “It was something that we as a city and as a country, here in the United States, must condemn and will not tolerate.”
Weinberg said the ceasefire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas brought a lot of hope as many hostages were released.
“We know that the hostages that stayed with him (Svirsky) were all released, and feel so real and possible (for him),” Weinberg said. “Now we have the proof because it happened already.”