In the last six months, more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel. Today, there are 134 Israeli hostages still unaccounted for. Ali Velshi points to what we know from the hostages who have been released: During their captivity, they have faced malnutrition, unsanitary conditions, lack of medical care and violence.
Those still held by Hamas have endured this for six months. As protests over Israel’s offensive in Gaza continue, Iran gets involved, and world leaders argue over restraint and defense, the families of the hostages are holding out hope that governments, the media and the public at large haven’t forgotten about their loved ones and that leaders are still working to bring them home.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin’s 23-year-old son Hersh was taken hostage on October 7. She has held on to the hope that in captivity, he’s still out there somewhere, and that hope is mandatory.
Gillian Kaye, stepmother of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, says, “Look at Gaza. How can you not look at that and not feel unbelievable sympathy for the suffering that’s going on there? And here we are with our innocent loved ones, hostages for 181 days, hidden in tunnels. We can’t see them anymore. We can’t see them like we can see what’s going on above ground. We can’t see them. So they kind of disappear in this horror, that’s going on and there’s no question that it feels like the world is moving on.”
LISTEN: ALI VELSHI ON HOPE FOR THOSE STILL HELD HOSTAGE BY HAMAS
WATCH: ALI VELSHI ON THE LINGERING HORROR OF HOSTAGES
