Sawt Falasteen - One year later, Israeli hostage family learns of loss

"We thought he was alive for a year," Idan's brother, Omri, told AFP. "I just wish I could have hugged him one last time."

After 12 months of daring to hope, Omri's dreams of a reunion were shattered on Sunday when the Israeli army informed the family that 28-year-old Idan had been killed during his abduction at the Nova Festival which was targeted by Hamas militants.

Despite not having his body, the family has begun commemorations and is receiving a stream of visitors for the traditional week of mourning, known as "shiva," in accordance with Jewish customs.

A large white tent has been set up outside their sea-side apartment in Tel Aviv. Portraits of Idan have been hung up, accompanied by the words: "A soul of light, love and selflessness."

Omri told AFP that authorities had presented "medical" evidence showing that his brother was among the more than 370 festival goers massacred at the Nova music event where over 40 were taken hostage.

"Idan was a student. He went to dance and never came back," said a visibly emotional Omri, 32, recounting his brother’s heroic actions during the attack, based on eyewitness accounts.

- "Save me!"

For the past year, Omri, his father Eli and other family members have been in the public eye, campaigning for the release of the hostages held in Gaza.

In late August, alongside other families of hostages, they shouted into Gaza through loudspeakers near the border.

"Idan! If you can hear us, we’re here. We’re not giving up," his father cried that day before running toward the Gaza fence with family members, shouting: "We’re coming," only to be stopped by soldiers.

In the family's tent outside their apartment, a government minister, a well-known TV presenter, army officers, and most notably, other hostage families gathered.

"This is something that has brought us all together: we, the hostage families, have become one big family," said Shelly Shem-Tov, who wore a T-shirt bearing the photo of her son Omer, also abducted from the Nova Festival.

"Throughout the year, we've lost so many hostages whom we didn't personally know, but we know their families. They've become like our own family, and it's so painful," she added.

The lives of these families changed forever on October 7, 2023 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures that include hostages who died or were killed in captivity in Gaza.

Of the 251 people abducted that day, 97 are still being held in Gaza, and 34 have been declared dead by the Israeli army.

In retaliation for the attack, Israel launched a military offensive that has killed 42,010 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations has described as credible.

"It's not right that civilians who went to dance at a festival are still being held captive in Gaza," added Shelly Shem-Tov. "It's not just one day after another. It's been a whole year that feels like an endless day.

"We're very, very tired," she said. "But we have no choice. We must keep shouting. I am Omer's voice, crying out: 'Save me! Save me!'"

F.Qawasmeh--SF-PST