20 Hostages, 20 Stories, 2 Years in Gaza

October 5, 2025


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The Final Hostages: Hidden, Not Forgotten

Negotiators for Israel and Hamas were poised for indirect negotiations to release the hostages and end the war in Gaza, as this edition of The Focus Project was set for publication. The talks were scheduled after President Trump welcomed the terrorist group’s acceptance of some elements of the U.S. plan. Israel PM Netanyahu said he supported the plan, although obstacles remained on both sides – many significant. Egypt will host delegations from Israel and Hamas to discuss the proposed exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. U.S. Sec. of State Rubio said on Sunday that there likely would be two phases if Hamas accepted the plan: release of hostages and Israeli forces pulled back to its positions in August.

As diplomatic efforts progress at the highest levels, PM Netanyahu has sought to remind the world of why they matter and the tragedy that began it all. While addressing the UN General Assembly, he wore a lapel pin with a QR code linking to horrific videos and graphic photos of the brutal massacre – a reminder that Israel has not forgotten Oct. 7. That reminder speaks to what diplomacy often obscures: the human reality of 20 presumed living hostages in dire condition – all young men – and 30 confirmed dead. Among them are fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers – civilians, soldiers, a fiancé and a pair of twins. They remain trapped in limbo as the world debates peace – struggling to survive while holding onto the memories of the homes and lives awaiting them.

The day the tragedy began: murder, rape and kidnappings

It all started on a pleasant and quiet Shabbat morning. Air raid sirens blared and thousands of rockets were launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Within moments, worst fears became realized as the Iran-backed terrorist group began its rampage on Israel – sending hundreds running and screaming – automatic rifles gunning down the innocent.

The jubilant sounds of dancing and singing at a music festival were abruptly turned to the sounds of terror. Families were ripped from their homes as peaceful communities near the Gaza border were invaded by thousands of Hamas terrorists. Children watched as their parents were murdered or abducted in front of them. Parents and spouses screamed and cried as their loved ones were pulled from their grasp and tossed onto the back of trucks and motorcycles – carried off like trophies – cheered through the streets by Gaza’s citizens upon arrival. That Shabbat morning, quiet communities turned into carnage and smoke as terrorists burned cars and bodies and raped, kidnapped and killed whoever they wished.

Stories of heroes and the hostages cast long shadows of that tragic day – reminders of heroism and hope against a backdrop of horror. Now approaching the two-year anniversary of that horrific day – where 1,200 innocent people were murdered and more than 250 were taken hostage – the impact of Oct. 7 continues.

The Hostages: names and stories, not just numbers

In an early 2025 ceasefire, 38 hostages were freed, nearly all still alive at the time of their release. Since then, Israel has recovered the bodies of nine more captives from the attack, while Pres. Trump secured the freedom of Edan Alexander – the last American-Israeli soldier held in Gaza. Officials have since confirmed the deaths of two additional hostages whose fates had been uncertain.

What follows is a closer look at some of these 20 individuals, where they were kidnapped from and the little we know about their pre-Oct. 7 lives and most recent proof and life.

Dragged from their homes: Kibbutz community abductions

Kibbutz Nahal Oz

Matan Angrest, 22, an IDF soldier pulled from his burning tank, was reported to have been chained, beaten, and badly injured, according to released hostages. Hamas later featured him in two propaganda videos in July 2024 and again a year later, as talk of a deal gained traction. According to relatives, in Hamas’ videos he appeared “drained and desperate,” with a broken nose and a right hand that seemed barely functional. He is the oldest of four siblings. Nimrod Cohen, 20, was pulled from his tank and taken to Gaza. He sent his family a message through a hostage who was released: “I’m OK, don’t worry, I love you.”

A massage therapist and gardener, Omri Miran, 48, hid with his wife and daughters in a safe room during the attack on the Nahal Oz community. Hamas terrorists forced entry and abduced him in his own car to Gaza as his wife and young children watched. Omri surfaced in a few proof-of-life videos released by Hamas over the past year, most recently in February. His wife’s last words to him before she watched him be taken: “I love you, I’ll protect our girls, we’re waiting for you, and don’t be a hero.”

Kibbutz Kfar Aza

Nearby in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Gali Berman, 27, was kidnapped from his home, along with his twin brother, Ziv. Before the attack, Ziv worked in event production and arranged shifts around their father’s medical treatments. The twins exchanged text messages with their families for hours while huddled inside their safe rooms. In the evening, they stopped answering. The brothers are the only surviving hostages from their devastated community.

Kibbutz Nir Oz

Ariel Cunio, 28, was kidnapped along with his fiancé, Arbel Yehud. Arbel was eventually freed in a ceasefire exchange in Jan. 2025, after more than 16 months in complete isolation. David Cunio, 35, Ariel’s brother, was abducted with his wife, twin daughters, sister-in-law and niece. All were released in Nov. 2023 – except him. Ariel and David’s mother last received proof of life for both brothers in Aug. 2024. In July 2025, David’s twin daughters turned five. Eitan Horn, 38, while visiting his brother, Iair, in Nir Oz, was taken along with his brother who was later freed. Before 10/7, Eitan worked as an informal educator with youth movements.

After telling his mother, “I love you, please don’t cry,” amid sounds of gunfire and motorcycles, Matan Zanguaker, 25, was kidnapped with his partner from their Nir Oz home. Matan has remained a public face of the hostage crisis thanks to his mother’s relentless advocacy. His partner was freed in Nov. 2023, but in subsequent propaganda videos, Hamas forced other hostages to reference him. In June 2025, Hamas released imagery threatening his execution if Israel attempted a rescue.

From dancing to death: Nova music festival abductions

While staying behind to help evacuate the wounded during the attack, Elkana Bohbot, 36, was abducted from the Nova music festival and filmed being beaten before being dragged into Gaza. During a ceasefire in 2025, his family finally received proof of life from a freed hostage urging his loved ones to remain strong. Serving as a security guard at the Nova festival during a break from army service, Rom Braslavski, 21, also stayed to assist wounded party goers and was later taken captive.

Evyatar David, 24, was seized at the Nova music festival with his best friend, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24. After his kidnapping, his family said they received a text from an unknown number, containing video footage of Evyatar handcuffed on the floor of a dark room. He was seen in a Feb. 2025 hostage release video where Hamas showed him watching other hostages being freed – a cruel reminder that his turn had not come and psychological torture for the hostages and their families. In Aug. 2025, Hamas released a propaganda video of Evyatar appearing to dig his own grave in an underground Gaza tunnel, which was condemned by European countries. Prior to his abduction, Evyatar was an avid guitar player, gamer and animation fan.

When the attack at Nova began, Segev Kalfon, 27, and his friends tried fleeing by car. When the vehicle stalled, they continued on foot until Hamas terrorists abducted him. In Feb. 2025, freed hostages provided the first confirmation to Segev’s family that he was alive. Maxim Herkin, 37, was kidnapped from the Nova festival only days after he had just returned to Israel from Ukraine. Hamas aired a video in May 2025 claiming he was injured in an Israeli strike on the tunnel where he was held. Described by his mother as the anchor and pillar of the family, he was the main provider for his mother and younger brother.

Eitan Mor, 25, the eldest of eight siblings, planned to open a restaurant before Oct. 7. He was serving in event security at the Nova festival when abducted; his companion was later found dead in Gaza. During the early 2025 ceasefire, his family learned he was still alive. Another security worker, Bar Kupershtein, 23, also volunteered as a paramedic, guiding people to exits and treating the wounded before being taken. A freed hostage mentioned him in February 2025, and a Hamas video in April confirmed he was alive. Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 24, was kidnapped after helping the injured escape Nova. His family received proof of life that February, followed by a Hamas video showing him and others pleading for support. Before the massacre, he was a bartender in Tel Aviv.

One of only four survivors pulled from a shelter at Nova where 16 others were killed, Alon Ohel, 24, was reported to be alive by hostages freed in Feb. 2025. His mother was later told he was chained, starved and beaten in captivity. In honor of him, his relatives placed yellow pianos across Israel, yellow being the symbolic color for hostages.

Avinatan Or, 32, was abducted with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani. He was among the first shown in Hamas abduction footage – driven into captivity as Noa screamed from the back of a terrorist’s motorcycle. In March 2025, the first sign of life was received for Avinatan. After 246 days in captivity, his girlfriend Noa was rescued from Gaza in June 2024 by IDF soldiers. She has since been named one of Time magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People – becoming a global voice for the hostages and urging world leaders and international forums to press for the release of those still in captivity. She continues to advocate for the return of her boyfriend and all the hostages since her rescue. Noa’s mother died of brain cancer shortly after her rescue.

10/7 aftermath: Indifference to hostages, support for Hamas and propaganda’s dulling effect

As their captivity drags on, many of the international community look away. A growing list of nations are pledging support for Palestinian statehood without acknowledging the central obstacle to peace for Palestinians: Hamas. The terrorist group still holds civilians underground, rejects every peace option and openly states its goal of destroying the State of Israel. World governments are calling for a Palestinian state without acknowledging Hamas’ crippling control of Gaza, with no outcry over the refusal to release hostages and no demand for Hamas to lay down arms.

By ignoring Hamas’ role, these governments risk legitimizing terror and distorting the path to peace. This inversion not only abandons the hostages and their families but undermines any genuine hope for a Palestinian future free of Hamas’ grip.

As governments look away, Hamas fills the vacuum with propaganda designed to desensitize the public. By radicalizing the impressionable, Hamas recasts its crimes as resistance. Furthering the international erosion of moral clarity, the world’s silence leaves space for Hamas’ messaging to take root – reframing atrocities, dulling public outrage and numbing audiences to the brutality of ongoing captivity. What once caused shock has become background noise. Hamas propaganda is not accidental; it’s central to Hamas’ strategy for survival and has made terror appear ordinary.

  1. Behind every hostage update are real names and real stories: The remaining hostages must not be reduced to statistics, let alone forgotten. They are real people whose absence leaves empty seats at family dinner tables, in classrooms and workplaces. Their lives were left frozen in time – beds empty, rooms untouched. Families yearn, cry and pray daily for their missing loved ones as captives languish in the dark tunnels of Hamas captivity. Democracies should not normalize relations with those who justify hostage-taking. Remembering the hostages is remembering that human life and freedom must not be negotiable.
  2. Rewarding terror weakens peace, inverts justice: Recognizing Palestinian statehood while hostages remain in Hamas captivity rewards violence rather than promoting peace. Hamas’ terror strategy prolongs hostage suffering, extends the terror group’s survival and shows that hostage-taking can translate into power and political gain. In this inverted justice, terror becomes a political tool and earns applause. Those who commit atrocities are legitimized, while those who suffer them are dismissed.
  3. Israel is not the obstacle to peace: Peace is blocked by Hamas’ commitment to endless war and its open rejection of Israel’s right to exist. Ignoring this fact distorts reality and ensures more conflict. Hamas holds both Israeli hostages and Gaza’s civilians as human shields. Releasing the hostages would weaken Hamas’ leverage and jeopardize the terror group’s survival. History shows that Israeli concessions – from Oslo Accords to the Gaza withdrawal – have been met with violence, not peace. Every serious statehood proposal has collapsed because Hamas and other terror factions reject disarmament and coexistence.

  • Remember the names, the faces, the stories of the hostages: Say a prayer, light a candle, do a kind deed in their merit – ensure each hostage is remembered as a person. Share their names and stories with your social media networks, newsletters and community spaces to ensure they remain present in our communal awareness.
  • Reject 10/7 “amnesia”: When discussions about Palestinian statehood arise, remind others that Hamas’ hostage-taking and genocidal ideology is the block to peace. Keep the morality upright and don’t slide into conversations that flip the narrative to protect terrorists and demonize victims.
  • Directly support families of the hostages: Encourage readers to engage with or donate to organizations representing hostage families, such as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Supporting advocacy efforts, attending solidarity events, or amplifying their voices ensures families are not left to carry the burden alone.
  • Commemorate Oct. 7 in a way that is meaningful to you: Whether you write a poem, attend a vigil or virtual event, create art or say a prayer, there are many ways to honor and remember those we have lost and stand with the hostages remaining in Gaza. American Zionist Movement has compiled resources and educational materials from a number of Jewish organizations to commemorate 10/7. Click here for their social media resources.

Other organizations hosting 10/7 commemorative events and resources:

Manchester UK devastated by Yom Kippur attack outside synagogue, two Jews dead

On the morning of Yom Kippur, Oct. 2, worshippers who were gathering at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall, Manchester were struck by terror. A man drove a car into people standing outside the synagogue before emerging with a knife and attempting to force his way inside. Armed police arrived within minutes and shot the attacker dead at 9:38 a.m., declaring the area a major terror incident. Bomb-disposal units were dispatched after the assailant appeared to be wearing an explosive vest, which was later found to be a hoax device.

Two members of the Manchester Jewish community were killed: Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Several others were seriously injured, at least three critically. Police later confirmed that one of the victims was likely struck by a police bullet during the rapid response, and another victim sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The attacker was identified as Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent who had not been on any prior terrorism watchlists. In the days following, three additional suspects were arrested on terrorism-related charges as part of an ongoing investigation. According to UK reports, the assailant behind the Yom Kippur terror attack was out on bail facing rape allegations. In the aftermath, social media posts emerged showing his father – who had condemned his son’s actions – had once celebrated Hamas’s October 7, 2023 rampage.

The attack sent shockwaves through the Jewish community in the UK and abroad. Vigils were held in Manchester and London as Jewish leaders urged calm and solidarity. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “horrific attack” and pledging full support for the Jewish community. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, and a number of international Jewish organizations expressed grief and outrage, warning that rising antisemitism across Europe has created fertile ground for violence.

Recent headlines on the attack:


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