The government's supervisor of abductees and missing persons, Brig. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, spoke to the media on Saturday evening and gave an update on the efforts to locate the captives and missing persons in Gaza.
"The headquarters is already operating and getting stronger. We suffered very heavy losses. Families, children, women, young people, adults and members of the security forces. This has led to results on a scale that makes it difficult for us to formulate a picture of the situation quickly. We have a large number of spaces. Shocking scenes and we are making an effort around the clock to identify everyone and bring the terrible news to the families, knowing that we have somewhat reduced the list of missing persons."
"We have many wounded who are being treated in hospitals in Israel and are formulating a picture of the situation regarding the abductees who are in enemy hands. It's an ongoing effort and we want not to make mistakes. Don't bring bad news to families. We try to be very precise."
He added that there is an intelligence effort all the time. "We are conducting a large-scale diplomatic effort. Our propaganda effort and harnessing all the elements in the world to understand the extent of the losses and what happened to the State of Israel against the murderous barbarians of Hamas and Islamic Jihad."
Hirsch said that although it is clear to him that there is no way to ease the anguish of families in uncertainty, he tries to be the right address for all inquiries.
"We are trying to build an address for the families of the missing. We set up a war room with dozens of senior officers who had undergone training on the issue of connection to delegations. The person running the training is Varda Pomeranz, former head of the IDF's casualty division and a bereaved mother. Her son Daniel was killed in Shejaiya, in Operation Protective Edge."
"We set up a team to solve problems for the families of the missing with various government ministries. We established a force headed by Major General Meir Kalifi, my commander and friend, which established a force of many dozens of very senior officers and IDF soldiers who go out to the homes of the families of the missing and abducted. We have reached dozens and we will reach hundreds in the coming days."
In addition, Hirsch promised that he would formulate an aid package with the CEOs Forum for families in a way that would make it easier for them. "We must remember that the war is only at the beginning and we are preparing for it," he clarified.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu," Hirsch declared, "wants and intends to meet soon representatives of the families of the missing. I brief the Prime Minister several times a day. We are in a situation where every minute there is extensive activity."
On questions about talking to Hamas, Hirsch said he was working to bring all the prisoners home. "We are operating under the guidance of the Israeli government, which aims to topple the Hamas regime militarily and governmentally."
Hirsch added that he had already spoken with the family of Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul, Avera Mangistu and Hisham Sayed and made it clear to them that he represents them as well. "We are only at the beginning of the war, but we are building a system and mechanism that can serve the state in the future as well, if necessary."
"Act now to stop the torture"
The headquarters of the families of the abductees and missing held a press conference simultaneously this evening, demanding the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the transfer of medicines, as well as humanitarian assistance to abductees and missing persons in need of urgent and life-saving medical treatment. Today, the Red Cross received the names of 150 abductees and missing persons in need of assistance.
Representatives of the families of the abductees, photo: Gideon Markowitz
Prof. Hagai Levin, who is accompanying the families in contacts with the Red Cross, spoke about the medical condition of those who need immediate treatment: "All the medicines you see here on the table are life-saving medicines that the abductees need immediately. Not only to prevent their deaths, but to prevent inhuman suffering. I ask world leaders, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other world leaders to intervene and speak out – act now to stop this torture."
Lee Dan, whose four family members were kidnapped, tearfully spoke about her aunt, who suffers from cognitive decline, and her granddaughter Noya, who is on the spectrum and very sensitive to noise and crowding. Oshrat Hershkovitz, whose uncle went missing along with his wife and mother: "The citizens should not be part of this war. Children and patients in captivity is a crime against humanity."
Yifat Ziller, whose cousin Shiri was kidnapped from her home with her two children, Kfir and Ariel, said: "Kfir is nine months old, I don't know if he gets his materna."
Many patients need medical care, the suffering is inhumane. Families of the abductees, photo: Gideon Markowitz
Tom Locke said: "I'm Shani Luke's cousin, she was kidnapped from the party to Gaza. She was filmed in a horrific video of her being led naked in a Hamas truck. We have documentation that she is alive and suffering from a severe blow to the head."
Ronen Tzur referred to National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi's remarks, saying: "If the words of National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi are true that the Israeli government will not conduct negotiations during wartime, it means that the Israeli government has chosen a strategy of abandoning the abductees and missing persons. We look forward to immediate clarification."
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