NEW YORK — Households of Israeli American hostages captured by Hamas — together with the mother and father of Tenafly Excessive College graduate Edan Alexander — gathered exterior the United Nations on Tuesday to demand better worldwide efforts to safe the return of their family members.
“These hostages want to be introduced again yesterday — not tomorrow, yesterday,” mentioned Liam Zeitchick, who mentioned his cousins and their three youngsters have been kidnapped from a secure room in southern Israel in the course of the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults.
Alexander, 19, is a solder in the Israeli army and was serving close to the southern border with Gaza when he was kidnapped. He is believed to be amongst 220 hostages taken by Hamas, in accordance to the Israeli authorities.
His relatives selected not to converse to the media on Tuesday, citing the emotional problem of the state of affairs.
The households have been joined by Israel’s international minister and U.N. ambassador, in addition to representatives of human rights organizations, all united in their name for the hostages’ secure return.
Dozens of footwear have been organized exterior the U.N. as a reminder of the lacking, together with posters bearing the names and pictures of these kidnapped.
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Orna Neutra, the mom of hostage Omer Neutra, who was born and raised in New York, described her son as a peaceable, loving individual.
The son joined the Israeli army to defend his nation, mentioned his mom, who made a heartfelt plea: “We wish our son again.” She emphasised the necessity for the U.N. and the worldwide group to work collectively to obtain that want.
Israel’s international minister, Eli Cohen, advised the group the United Nations wants to take extra important actions to convey the hostages again.
The group chanted “convey them house” and ended the occasion with a music of hope.
Alexander, who graduated from highschool in 2021, is “an amazing child,” Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna mentioned in an interview days after the assault. “He’s serving to defend his individuals … All they discovered from him was his flak jacket that he was carrying. We hope for some excellent news.”
The borough has many residents with Israeli ties, Zinna famous. “They’re robust individuals, however they’re shaken to the core by these occasions. The Jewish individuals have survived 1000’s of years of persecution. These are darkish instances now. However they may finally prevail.”
This text initially appeared on NorthJersey.com: Families of Hamas hostages gather at UN to demand return
