The families of the hostages published during the first week of the cease-fire agreement celebrated the Shabbat on Friday evening, gathered for the first time since their kidnapping.
The hostages, Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 23, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were detained in captivity by Hamas for more than 67 weeks.
Romi’s family said: “There is still a long way to go – we expect the Israeli government to continue to follow all the stages to return all the kidnapped men and women.”
Friday evening, the Smarting and Smart Families Forum published a family video, where they said that “in a few minutes, we will hold a Kiddush with our dear Romi for the first time in 67 weeks.
“We expect the Israeli government to continue to achieve all the stages to return all the hostages. To the people of Israel, we would like to thank you for being with us, thank you for being strong and moral.”
Romi Gonen’s family says that they expect the Israeli government to follow the agreement with hostage before celebrating its first Shabbat with Romi in more than 67 weeks (Credit: Family Forum of Hatages)
Bring back the hostages to the house
“This is our first Friday with Doron after 67 Friday. This joy will not multiply until all the hostages return home,” Doron’s family wrote in a press release.
“We have this mission to reach all the gatherings that take place across the country and create a momentum that will bring everyone back to home,” they added.
The Steinbrecher family encouraged people to attend public rallies pleading for new hostage offers to see the return of each captive to Gaza.
“We will continue to fight until the last hostage is returned. Do not stop and keep being in the fight wherever you are before the last return home,” they said.
