In the early morning of October 7, the group Hamas launched a series of surprise attacks in the areas bordering Israel and Gaza. The group targeted a music festival in southern Israel where more than 3,000 young people gathered. And for Yeela and her family, it is a Saturday they will never forget.
YEELA
Brother kidnapped by Hamas
We knew that, at this time, Eviatar, my brother, is [at] this music festival [in] the south of Israel. We didn't know where it was located exactly. My mom immediately texted him to see if he's okay and he texted her that people are shooting all over. [At] 7:45, it was the last message we got from him, which was: they are starting to come back home.
But her brother did not make it home. He and more than 150 other people from multiple countries were taken hostage to Gaza. Later in the day, Yeela learned that Eviatar was spotted in one of the hostage videos Hamas posted. She says that video gave them hope.
YEELA
Brother kidnapped by Hamas
Actually, we watched the video of my brother and the fact that he looks healthy and he looks in one piece and, for now, he looks great. It's crazy saying that but he looks very good.
And we know they need the hostages. They need them. They need them because...wow, wait...
They need the hostages alive as an interest.
10 days after Eviatar was kidnapped, Yeela's family has not received any more information on his whereabouts. But Hamas has posted other videos of hostages. Yeela says that pressure from other countries can help families get more information about their loved ones.
YEELA
Brother kidnapped by Hamas
Hamas posted a video of one of the hostages. It's a 21-year-old girl. You can tell she's terrified, but she's saying: she's okay and that they are taking care of her. And that video came out because all of the pressure because now a lot of people are saying that Hamas is like ISIS, which they don't want to...they don't want it. So it's mostly the pressure.
The story of Yeela's family and many others continues to move organizations and countries to help in whatever way they can.
KG
